Sir Stafford never spoke during this recital. The terrible shock seemed to have left its stunning influence on his faculties, and he appeared scarcely able to take in with clearness the details into which the other entered. “She's gone to Como, then,” were the first words he uttered,----“to this villa the Prince has lent her?” “So I understand; and, from what Proctor says, the Russian is going to marry the Dalton girl.” “Miss Dalton is along with Lady Hester?” “To be sure; they travel together, and George was to have followed them.” “Even scandal, Grounsell, can make nothing of this. What say you, man?” “You may defy it on that score, Stafford. But let us talk of what is more imminent,----of George.” “I must see him, Grounsell; I must see my poor boy,” said he, rising, and making an effort to get out of bed; but weakness and mental excitement together overcame him, and he sank back again, fainting and exhausted. To this a deep, heavy sleep succeeded, and Grounsell stole away, relieved in mind by having acquitted himself of his painful task, and free to address his thoughts to other cares. “Lord Norwood wishes to see you, sir,” said a servant to the doctor, as he at last seated himself for a moment's rest in his chamber; and before Grounsell could reply, the noble Viscount entered. “Excuse this abrupt visit, sir; but I have just heard of poor Onslow's accident Is there any danger in his condition?” “Great and imminent danger, my Lord.” “By Jove!--sorry for it you don't happen to know how it occurred?” “A fall, evidently, was the cause; but how incurred, I cannot even guess.” “In the event of his coming about again, when might we expect to see him all right,--speaking loosely, of course?” “Should he recover, it will take a month, or, perhaps, two, before he convalesces.” “The devil it will! These Frenchmen can't be made to understand the thing at all; and as Guilmard received a gross personal outrage, he is perfectly out of his mind at the delay in obtaining satisfaction. What is to be done?” “I am a poor adviser in such cases, my Lord; nor do I see that the matter demands any attention from us whatever.” “Not from _you_, perhaps,” said Norwood, insolently; “but I had the misfortune to go out as his friend! My position is a most painful and critical one.” “I should suppose that no one will understand how to deal with such embarrassments better than your Lordship.”