"I do believe you are right," he said at length; "there have been tales as strange in the story of the house--generally concerning a lady, I fear At least Evelyn can know nothing of this," he added a little thoughtfully; "it would be a great misfortune for her." "Heritage has little regard for the fortunes of others," said the Doctor. "I don't suppose she would have married an Englishman--she's not the girl to do it. That comes of educating them abroad--I would sooner send a daughter of mine to fight the Russians than to a school in Paris. Make Englishwomen of them, I say, and leave the fal-de-lals alone. What's it worth to a girl if she can jabber French and has lost her English heart! No, my dear Vicar, England for me and English roses for my home. Evelyn will marry this man because France taught her to think well of foreigners. If she had gone to a Derbyshire school, he might as well have proposed to Cleopatra's monument on the Thames Embankment. I'm sorry for her, truly, but words won't change the thing, and that's the end of it. Let's go and lunch. We have done nothing ill for one morning, any way." They went to lunch and afterward to the business of a common day. As it fell out, they did not meet again until after church upon the following Sunday, when the Vicar, still wearing his surplice as he crossed from the vestry to the parsonage, found the Doctor waiting for him with the air of one who has important tidings and must impart them quickly. "No bad news from the Hall?" he exclaimed, so much was that great house now in his mind. The Doctor, however, drew him aside and told him in a word. "The Count's gone," he said quickly. "He comes back in October. The Earl told me so himself. She's to marry him in the winter, and that's the end of it, Harry." The Vicar shook his head gravely. "The beginning of it, Frederick, the beginning," he said wisely. BOOK II THE ENGLISHMAN CHAPTER XVII GAVIN ORD BEGINS HIS WORK In what manner Gavin Ord arrived at Melbourne Hall and took up his residence there has already been recorded in the early pages of this narrative.