“Come, then, why do you loiter?” “Forgive me, dear lady! but I knew you could not walk; besides, it is coming on to rain hard; so I took the liberty of going out and engaging a cab, that is to wait for us at the corner of the next square. Pray do not be uneasy, dear lady; the cabman knows nothing, but that he is to take two passengers to the cars.” “Well, well, my girl! you acted for the best, and I do not blame you, but thank you; and trust that your act may not lead to a premature discovery of our flight. Come, let us go,” said Lady Montressor, and she placed the two letters in a conspicuous position on the mantle-piece, while Susan extinguished the lights. They then left the chamber; Susan closed the door after them. And so Lady Montressor, attended by her faithful servant, went down the stairs, through the long passage, and out by the private door—out into the double darkness of the midnight and the tempest! CHAPTER VIII. THE FORSAKEN. “Though the world for this commend thee, Though it smile upon the blow, Even its praises must offend thee, Founded on another’s woe: “Still thy heart its life retaineth— Still must mine, though bleeding, beat; And the undying thought which paineth Is—that we no more may meet. “Every feeling hath been shaken; Pride, which not a world could bow Bends to thee—by thee forsaken, Even my soul forsakes me now.”—_Byron._ Lord Montressor arose early next morning, and devoted the whole forenoon to engaging a pleasant suite of rooms at the “Royal Adelaide,” and in superintending their arrangement for the reception of his bride. The apartments were quite ready by eleven o’clock. And a few minutes before twelve, Lord Montressor entered his carriage, and drove to the “Crown and Sceptre,” to keep his appointment with Estelle. He inquired for Lady Montressor, and was shown up at once into her private parlor, while the waiter took his card up to her ladyship’s chamber. He waited impatiently for a few moments until the servant returned, with the information that neither Lady Montressor nor her woman was in her ladyship’s room. “That is strange,” thought Lord Montressor. “Take this card up to Mr. Oldfield, and let him know that I would be happy to see him in this room,” he said, handing the “pasteboard” to the waiter. The man received it and disappeared. There was no suspicion nor misgiving in the impatience with which Lord Montressor waited for the appearance of Mr. Oldfield. He simply thought it unusual that Lady Montressor should not be ready to receive him, and wished to inquire for her of the minister. Presently the door opened, and Mr. Oldfield entered.