"_Horrible_ news--about Mr. Titmouse?" echoed Gammon, amazedly--"pardon me--I don't understand your Grace! If you allude to the two _executions_, which I'm sorry to hear"---- "Pho, sir! you are trifling! Believe me, this is a very awful moment to all persons involved in what has taken place!" replied the duke, his voice quivering with emotion. "Your Grace will excuse me, but I _really_ cannot comprehend you!"---- "You soon shall, sir! I tell you, it may be a matter of infinite moment to yourself personally, Mr. Gammon!" "What _does_ your Grace mean?" inquired Gammon, respectfully, but firmly--and throwing an expression of still greater amazement into his face. "Mean, sir? By----! that you have killed my Lord Dreddlington and the Lady Cecilia," cried the duke, in a very violent manner. "I wait to hear, as soon as your Grace may condescend to explain," said Gammon, calmly. "Explain, sir? Why, I have _already_ told and explained everything!" replied the choleric duke, who imagined that he really _had_ done so. "Your Grace has told--has explained nothing whatever," said Gammon. "Why, sir--I mean, what 's this horrible story you've been telling my Lord Dreddlington about Mr. Titmouse being--in plain English, sir--A BASTARD?" If the duke had struck at Gammon, the latter could not have started back more suddenly and violently than he did on hearing his Grace utter the last words; and he remained gazing at the duke with a face full of horror and bewilderment. The spectacle which he presented arrested the duke's increasing excitement. He stared open-mouthed at Gammon, presently adding--"Why sir, are we both--are we all--mad? or dreaming? or what has come to us?" "I think," replied Gammon, a little recovering from the sort of stupor into which the duke's words had apparently thrown him, "it is I who have a better title than your Grace to ask the question!--I tell Lord Dreddlington that Mr. Titmouse is a bastard! Why, I can hardly credit my ears! Does my Lord Dreddlington say that I have told him so?" "He does, sir!" replied the duke, fiercely. "And what else may his Lordship have said concerning me?" inquired Gammon, with a sort of hopeless smile. "By Heaven, sir, you mustn't treat this matter lightly!" said the duke, impetuously, approaching him suddenly. "May I ask your Grace whether this is the matter mentioned in your Grace's note, as of the"---- "It _is_, sir! it is!--and it's killed my Lord Dreddlington--and also the Lady Cecilia!" "What!" cried Gammon, starting and exhibiting increasing amazement--"does _her Ladyship_, too, say that I have told her so?" "Yes, sir; she does!" "What, Lady Cecilia?" echoed Gammon, really confounded. "Well, sir--I think she did"---- "_Think_, your Grace!" interrupted Gammon, bitterly and reproachfully.