This plump wife of the estimable Scotch iron-founder was a recent importation into society. She had, he heard, been "taken up" by Claudia, and owed all her success to her ladyship's introductions. It is not given to every one to entertain a Grand-Duke for the shooting, and her fame as a hostess had been considerably increased by her good fortune in this respect. She chattered steadily until the tall, thin-faced Duke of Penarth himself strolled past, bowed on catching sight of her, and stayed to talk for a few moments. Lady Meldrum did not hesitate when it was necessary to choose between a sprat and a whale. She at once turned aside from Dudley, thus giving him a chance to improve the occasion with her ward. Yes, he decided, she was possessed of a charming ingenuousness; and yet at the same time there was nothing of the school-miss about her. She had given a very candid and amusing opinion regarding the controversy which had taken place in the House at the time of her visit, and had openly expressed her admiration of the determined and outspoken manner in which he had supported the Government and crushed the arguments of the Opposition. "I really suspect you to be a politician, Miss Mortimer," he laughed presently. "You seem well-versed in so many points of our foreign policy." "Oh," she answered with a smile. "I read the papers in preference to novels, that's the reason." Another waltz was commencing. As he turned to glance to the centre of the room, his eyes fell upon a couple gliding together among the dancers. He bit his lip, for he recognised them as the Grand-Duke and the woman who only an hour ago had vowed that she still loved him. He turned back again to that pale, childish face with the blue eyes, and saw truth, honesty, and purity mirrored there. Yet he had been distinctly and seriously warned against her--even her. Why, he wondered, had the colonel spoken in so forcible a fashion, and yet refused a single word of explanation? It was an enigma, to say the least of it. CHAPTER THIRTEEN. TAKES DUDLEY BY A BY-PATH.