100 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



Blanche, my lecture is finished, for which you may perhaps 

 think old Bob Conyers a fool \ but I could not rest happy 

 until I had told you my suspicions, and given you my 

 advice." 



" Indeed, Mr. Conyers," said Blanche, " I feel most grateful 

 for your kindness on this and many more occasions, and I shall 

 ever regard you as one of my best friends." 



" Well, whenever you want my advice or assistance, do not 

 hesitate a moment, dear Blanche, in applying to me ; but our 

 conversation to-day must be kept a secret from Mr. and Mrs.. 

 Harcourt, and do not mention that you heard of Lord Yan- 

 court being expected at Marston, or they will accuse me of 

 intermeddling in what does not concern me." 



" You may depend I shall never reveal what you tell me in 

 confidence." After which they proceeded on their ride. 



A select party had been asked to meet Mr. and Mrs. Har- 

 court on the day of their arrival at Marston Castle, besides 

 the guests staying in the house, two of whom were Mr. Harley 

 and his sister, a matronly personage of about forty, clever, well- 

 informed, and chatty, who, having received her instructions 

 from her brother, was fully prepared to laud Lord Yancourt to 

 the skies ; in fact, there was what is termed a packed jury of 

 ladies and gentlemen, carefully chosen by Lord Mervyn from 

 the class sycophantic, who never ventured to hold an opinion on 

 any matter adverse to his lordship's — Tyler and Yernon being 

 included. 



Lord Yancourt, who had arrived that day, was about twenty- 

 eight years of age, tall, standing over six feet, with a very good, 

 Avell-proportioned figure, decidedly handsome, of rather aristo- 

 cratic-looking features, and an aquiline nose. He had also 

 a profusion of curly black hair, with very bushy eyebrows ; but 

 there was a sinister expression in the eye, which revealed much 

 of his true character. In disposition, he was naturally 

 haughty, overbearing, passionate, and uncompromising ; but 

 having mixed a great deal in good society, his manners were 

 highly polished, and he had the art of rendering himself most 

 agreeable to ladies, with whom he carefully repressed all indica- 

 tions of ill-temper or impatience. 



During the dinner hour, having travelled a great deal, he 

 related in a pleasant, unostentatious manner his various adven- 

 tures by sea and land, and even Blanche, notwithstanding Bob's 

 warning, thought him the most agreeable man she had ever 

 met; there was, however, a peculiar expression sometimes in 



