"He has had an awful life--the Duchess was mad. She was a Thorval, a cousin of my wife's, and went more or less off her head soon after they were married about twenty-eight years ago. Then for more than fifteen years she was extremely peculiar, but not quite bad enough to be entirely shut up. Only of course it made it impossible for him to have friends or to entertain and enjoy his great position. Then she became quite mad and had to be isolated and by this time Adeliza, the only child, began to show signs of derangement, too, and so he had the horror of seeing the same thing occurring over again. About two years ago the Duchess died and fortunately soon after Adeliza caught scarlet fever and died also, just before you came to my aunt's--and then Mordryn started on a long voyage round the world to try and make a break and forget--and he has been abroad ever since, and only returned last night." "Poor man, then he did not obtain much pleasure from his great position?" "Not in England--but one must suppose that he has had some kind of consolations in all these years. He was often in Paris and has always been extremely attractive, but he is a great gentleman, and there have never been any scandals about him." "And now all those ugly shadows have been removed from his life and he is free--" Katherine drew in her breath a little. "Yes, he is free," Gerard concurred gloomily. "He is a most intimate friend of my aunt's; you will see him constantly at Blissington." "Where I am the secretary--yes. Ah! if you knew how I long sometimes to be--myself--and not to have to act meekness--Ah! you would know then how grateful I shall be if you can give me this one evening of happiness." He was touched, she so seldom showed any emotion. He felt rewarded for some of his sufferings. "You shall have as perfect a time as I can secure for you, Katherine, dear girl--" and he bent forward and took her hand. "You would adorn any position in the world--but if Mordryn were not a most splendid character I would not help you to meet him--He is--One of the finest in the world--and I will try--I promise you I will try not to let any jealous envy stand in your way." "You are a dear after all," and she returned the pressure of his fingers before she drew hers away. There was a strange light in her eyes as she walked up the stairs to her room in Berkeley Square. A wonderful vista had suddenly opened itself before her, with a mountain in the distance all of shining gold. It seemed that it must always have been there but that some mist had hidden it which was now rolled away. What if she should be able to reach this splendid gilded mountain top--some day?---- A glorious end to aim at in any case, and she shut her white teeth firmly--and sitting down by her open window began steadily to think.