There was something in the apparent embarrassment and distress of Mr. Falconer, which Lord Oldborough’s penetrating eye instantly discerned to be affected.--His lordship turned a chair towards him, but said not a word.--The commissioner sat down like a man acting despair; but looking for a moment in Lord Oldborough’s face, he saw what his lordship was thinking of, and immediately his affected embarrassment became real and great. “Well, commissioner, what is the difficulty?” “My lord, I have within this quarter of an hour heard what will ruin me for ever in your lordship’s opinion, unless your lordship does me the justice to believe that I never heard or suspected it before--I have only to trust to your magnanimity--and I do.” Lord Oldborough bowed slightly--“The fact, if you please, my dear sir.” “The fact, my lord, is, that Captain Bellamy, whose eyes, I suppose, have been quickened by jealousy, has discovered what has escaped us all--what never would have occurred to me--what never could have entered into my mind to suspect--what I still hope--” “The fact, sir, let me beg.” The urgency of Lord Oldborough’s look and voice admitted of no delay. “Miss Hauton is in love with my son John.” “Indeed!” This “Indeed!” was pronounced in a tone which left the commissioner in doubt what it expressed, whether pure surprise, indignation, or contempt--most of the last, perhaps: he longed to hear it repeated, but he had not that satisfaction. Lord Oldborough turned abruptly--walked up and down the room with such a firm tread as sounded ominously to the commissioner’s ear. “So then, sir, Miss Hauton, I think you tell me, is in love with Cornet Falconer?” “Captain Bellamy says so, my lord.” “Sir, I care not what Captain Bellamy says--nor do I well know who or what he is--much less what he can have to do with my family affairs--I ask, sir, what reason you have to believe that my niece is in love, as it is called, with your son? You certainly would not make such a report to me without good reason for believing it--what are your reasons?” “Excuse me, my lord, my reasons are founded on information which I do not think myself at liberty to repeat: but upon hearing the report from--” The commissioner, in the hurry and confusion of his mind, and in his new situation, totally lost his _tact_, and at this moment was upon the point of again saying _from Captain Bellamy_; but the flash of Lord Oldborough’s eye warned him of his danger--he dropped the name. “I immediately went to sound my son John, and, as far as I can judge, he has not yet any suspicion of the truth.”