"I have to thank your lordship for the promotion I was gazetted with to-day, have I not?" said Sir Francis in a low voice. "I used my influence on your behalf," answered Rose Lyndwood. "I think you know it, Sir Francis." "I wished to be confirmed, sir. I could not flatter myself it was my own merits. I decline the place, my lord. I can be under no obligation to your lordship." "And your motive in this?" asked the Earl slowly. He roused himself with an indolent air and looked up at the other. "What was your motive in doing me this favour?" demanded Sir Francis, his red-brown eyes darkening. "I do not care to endeavour to understand you," said Rose Lyndwood, frowning. "I do not know what you have against me, nor is it worth while to inquire." He yawned and his lids drooped. "The time is inconvenient--and the place--for these discussions," he added. "I have not studied your convenience or my own in coming here," answered Sir Francis haughtily. "I am not fond of taverns. But the matter I have in hand is imperative. Has your lordship seen the _Gazette_ to-day?" "It seems to have been an interesting sheet," said the Earl languidly but with watchful eyes. "Ye are the second has asked me that. Well, what of it?" Sir Francis threw back his mantle and drew from the pocket of it a copy of the paper. "Will you read this?" he said. "Afterwards I shall have to ask your lordship two questions." Rose Lyndwood took the small, closely printed sheet and sat up, leaning heavily on the table, to read it. Sir Francis stood erect, his hand on his hip, observing him. There was not the slightest change in the even pallor of my lord's weary face--not the least alteration in his indifferent attitude. He laid down the _Gazette_ and looked up. "What are the two questions?" he asked. Sir Francis drew his breath sharply. "First, is there any truth in that paragraph? Secondly, what are you going to do?" The Earl lowered his gaze to his fine hand lying idly across the paper. "For the first, I will give you neither yes nor no, Sir Francis. For the second, how can I say yet what I shall do?" "I am not contented with that," answered Sir Francis. "If what is stated there be true, I must know it, and you must answer for having permitted it to become public. If it be false, you and I, my lord, must track down the malice that dictated it." Rose Lyndwood pushed his chair back. "It is false," he said with sudden recklessness. "What should that lady be writing to me for, or I to her? Oh, be assured that it is false, Sir Francis. Do these damned scribblers ever write the truth?" Sir Francis eyed him keenly. "I do not take your mood, my lord. This cannot be ignored." The Earl lifted his shoulders. "Oh, if you like to challenge every hack in Grub Street!" "I do not think one of those wrote that, Lord Lyndwood." "Who else? There is no one in town who has not been so written of. I am well used to it; and as to the lady----"