“Such an inducement as the latter I am unable to resist,” Ralph responded, with a smile. “I will come with pleasure.” “You’re a sensible fellow,” replied young Alden, as, linking his arm familiarly in that of his friend, he led him away. Ralph found Stamfield House a delightful place. Lady Stamfield all, and more, than Herbert Alden had promised him in the way of a hostess, and the Misses Stamfield, young ladies of eighteen and twenty, pretty and talented, and entertaining enough to make an hour or two pass very agreeably. He was very cordially received upon being presented by his friend, and introduced to a number of pleasant people, and he began to think that he had not seen the best side of London after all, since he had not heretofore been favorably impressed with its citizens. After he had danced two or three times, young Alden sought him again, and took him away to the billiard-room, which, for that evening, had been set apart for a smoking-room. “I want to introduce you to some fine fellows,” he said, on the way thither, “‘bang up’ boys, we should say in America, who will give you a good time while you stay here.” He found a dozen or twenty young men gathered in the billiard-room, and was introduced to several of them by his friend. He spent half an hour very pleasantly there, and then began to think that it was time that he was getting back to his hotel, for it was a long distance from that portion of the city. He stood by the billiard-table alone for a moment, waiting to bid young Alden good-night, when suddenly he heard his voice at his elbow, introducing him to “Lord Carrol, of Carrolton.” He half put out his hand, glanced up at the stranger, started, withdrew it, and bowed stiffly to his lordship. He had recognized Archibald Sherbrooke! The fine, genial face of the young peer clouded at the act and his cool greeting; but, with his natural good-breeding, he appeared not to heed it, and expressed his pleasure at the meeting; while Alden, the introduction over, turned away, leaving them together. “I beg your pardon,” Ralph said, the hot blood mounting to his brow, for his loyal heart could not forget Star and her wrongs, “I have heard you addressed twice to-day by another name—Archibald Sherbrooke. Has my friend made a mistake in introducing you to me as Lord Carrol?” His lordship laughed, and his face cleared instantly. “No,” he said; “I am both Archibald Sherbrooke and Lord Carrol. I am troubled with a plurality of names, which frequently cause mistakes, some of which are ludicrous, and some—painful.” This last statement was supplemented with a heavy sigh. “But,” he added, more lightly, “I will shake hands with you over either,” and he extended his hand again. But Ralph would not take it. He drew back a step, and bent a perplexed look upon his companion’s face. “Pardon me again,” he said; “but before I take your hand, allow me to ask you a single question.”