"That's my look out," cried the Buffer, brutally. Markham turned away in disgust, and descended to the boat, followed by Morcar and Benstead. "We will now proceed to the wharf where I hired the _Blossom_," said Richard, when they had pushed off from the _Fairy_; "and, my good friends, there I shall dispense with your further services. The owner of the lighter can send his men to Rotherhithe to bring it up, and thus save us a task which is somewhat beyond our skill." "It is a great pity we have failed to capture the miscreant," observed Morcar. "But your reward has not been the less fairly and honestly earned," replied Richard; "as I will prove to you when we land." CHAPTER CLXX. THE BLACK VEIL. Return we now to one whom we have long left, but whom the reader cannot have forgotten. In a sumptuously furnished room at the house of Mr. Wentworth, the surgeon of Lower Holloway, Diana Arlington was reclining upon a sofa. She was dressed in an elegant manner; but a large black lace veil, doubled so as to render it more impervious to the eye of a beholder, was thrown over her head. The folds were also so arranged that the elaborately worked border completely concealed her countenance. She was alone. An open piano, a harp, and piles of music, together with a choice selection of volumes on the shelves of a book-case, denoted the nature of her amusements during her residence of several weeks at the surgeon's abode. It was mid-day. The damask curtains at the windows were drawn in such a manner as to reduce the light of the effulgent sun to a mellow and soft lustre within that apartment. Beautiful nosegays of flowers imparted a delicious fragrance to the atmosphere. The bounty of the Earl of Warrington had furnished the room in a style of luxury which could scarcely be surpassed. But was Diana happy? Were those sighs which agitated her heaving bosom,—was that restlessness which she now manifested,—was that frequent listening as the sounds of wheels passed along the road,—were all these signs of sorrow or of suspense? Patience, gentle reader. The time-piece on the mantel had chimed mid-day. "He is not punctual," murmured Diana. Ten minutes elapsed. "He does not come!" she said aloud. And her restlessness redoubled. At length a carriage drove rapidly up to the door; and a long double knock reverberated through the house. "'Tis he!" cried Diana. In a few moments the Earl of Warrington entered the room. "Diana—dearest Diana!" exclaimed the nobleman, starting back when he beheld her countenance covered with that ominous dark veil: "is it indeed thus——" "Thus that we meet after so long an absence?" added the Enchantress. "Yes, my lord: Mr. Wentworth must have told you as much."