"Lord Angleford has a nephew who is a great, a very great friend of mine--Lord Selbie. He was Lord Angleford's heir; but--well, his uncle's marriage may make all the difference to him." Nell knit her brows and made another call on her memory. "Of course!" she exclaimed, in a tone of triumph, which rather surprised Sir Charles. "I remember reading about it. Lord Selbie! Yes--oh, yes; I recollect." Her voice grew sad and absent, as she recalled the afternoon when Mrs. Lorton had insisted upon her reading the stupid society paper to Drake. How long ago it seemed! How unreal! "I dare say," said Sir Charles. "It's one of those things which the world chatters about, and the newspapers paragraph. Poor Selbie!" "Was he a very great friend of yours?" asked Nell, rather mechanically, her eyes wandering from one face to another. "Yes, very great," replied the undersecretary, with a warmth which one does not look for in a professional politician. "We were at Eton together, and we saw a great deal of each other afterward, though he went into the army, and I, for my sins, fell into politics. He is one of the best of fellows, an Admirable Crichton, at once the envy and the despair of his companions. There is scarcely anything that Selbie doesn't do, and he does all things well--the best shot, the best rider, the best fencer, the best dancer of his set, and the best-hearted. Poor old chap!" It was evident that he had, in his enthusiasm, almost forgotten his auditor. "Where is he now?" asked Nell. "I heard Lady Angleford say that he is abroad." "Yes. No one knows where he is. He has disappeared. It sounds a strong word, but it is the only one that will meet the case. And perhaps it was the best thing he could do. When a man's prospects are blighted, and his ladylove has jilted him----" Nell turned quickly. She had tried to remember the whole of the paragraph she had read to Drake, but she could not. "What was the name of the lady who--who jilted him?" she asked. Sir Charles was about to reply, and if he had spoken, Nell would have learned Drake's identity; but at that moment there came a lull in the conversation, and before it had recommenced, the prime minister leaned forward and asked a question of his friend. The answer led to a general discussion, and at its close Lady Wolfer smiled and raised her eyebrows at the duchess, received a responsive nod, and the ladies rose. Sir Archie was the gentleman nearest the door, and he opened it for them. As Lady Wolfer was passing through, a flower fell from the bosom of her dress. He picked it up and held it out to her, with a bow and a smile; but she had turned to say something to the lady behind her, and he drew his hand back and concealed the flower in it. Nell, who chanced to be looking at him, was, perhaps, the only one who saw the action, and she thought little of it. He could scarcely interrupt Lady Wolfer by a too-insistent restoration of the blossom.