The music was playing its loudest, and as we walked, my lord beside me, and Mrs. Esther with Lady Levett--Nancy remaining behind to exchange insinuations and pert speeches (in which the saucy damsel took great delight) with Peggy Baker. I looked back and saw their heads wagging, while the bystanders smiled, and presently Peggy fanned herself, with agitation in her face, by which it was easy to conclude that Nancy had said something more than usually biting, to which her opponent had, for the moment, no reply ready. "You have read these papers?" asked my lord, and that in as careless a tone as if they contained nothing of importance. "Yes," I said, "I have read the sad story. But I pity the poor woman who was persuaded to do your lordship this grievous wrong." "I think she needs and deserves little of our pity," he replied. "And as for persuasion, it could have wanted but little with a woman so designing as to join in such a plot." A designing woman! Poor Kitty! Then I tried, beating about the bush, to bring his mind round to see the possibility of a more charitable view. "Remember, my lord, two things. This Doctor Shovel could not have known of your coming. The plot, therefore, was swiftly conceived, and as quickly carried into execution. You have told me in your paper--I entreat you, my lord, burn it with all speed--that this man's influence over you was so great as to coerce you (because your brain was not in its natural clearness) into doing and suffering what, at ordinary times, you would have rejected with scorn. Bethink you, then, with charity, that this Doctor Shovel, this so-called Chaplain of the Fleet, may have found some poor girl, over whom he had authority, and in like manner coerced and forced her to join with him in this most wicked plot." "You would make excuses," he said, "for the greatest of sinners. I doubt not that. But this story is too improbable. I cannot think that any woman could be so coerced against her will." I sighed. "My lord, I beg you to remember your promise to me. You will not leave Epsom without first telling me: you will not seek out this man, this Doctor Shovel, or quarrel with him, or do aught to increase his malice. Meantime, I am feeble, being only a woman, and bound in obedience and duty to my guardian and protectress. Yet I bethink me of an old fable. The lion was one day caught in the coils of a net, and released by the teeth of a----" He started. "What does this mean! O Kitty! what can you do?" "I do not know. Yet, perhaps I may be able to release you from the coils of this net. Have patience, my lord." "Kitty!" "Let us speak no more about it for the moment," I replied. "Perhaps, my lord, if my inquiries lead to the result you desire--it is Christian to forgive your enemies----" "I cannot understand you," he replied. "How should you--how should any one--release me? Truly, if deliverance came, forgiveness were a small thing to give." CHAPTER XVI. HOW SPED THE MASQUERADE.