LORD VANCOURT EXPOSED. 149 



shall remain tinder my protection, as I also am her guardian ; 

 but should you think proper to question our authority for so 

 acting, last night's transactions shall be laid before the Lord 

 Chancellor, and we do not fear the result." 



" Oh ! I suppose," said Mrs. Harcourt, sneeringly, " Mrs. 

 Gordon intends to keep her niece here to marry her favourite, 

 Mr. Beauchamp." 



"Even if I did," replied Mrs. Gordon, "it would not be 

 quite so bad as conniving at her being carried away by a 

 married man ! " 



" Lord Yancourt is not a married man, and I defy you to 

 the proof, madam ! " 



" Here it is, then," exclaimed Melville, who had entered the 

 room with Bob Conyers, and heard the last sentence. " Here is 

 a copy of the marriage certificate of Edward, Lord Yancourt, 

 and Signora Marinetta, solemnised at Florence five years ago, 

 and duly attested by witnesses. I have seen the original from 

 which this is taken, and have already written to a friend at 

 Florence to send me all further particulars." 



" And what business is this of yours, sir 1 " demanded Mrs. 

 Harcourt, rising in great indignation from her chair. 



" It became my business, madam," replied Melville, " when 

 my word was questioned the other night by Lord Yancourt at 

 the ball, and it shall be my business still, to prove him what I 

 then asserted he was — a married man." 



" Oh, very well, sir," said the lady, ringing the bell violently 

 for her carriage ; " but you shall not marry my niece, notwith- 

 standing." 



" Were I so disposed," replied the captain, " I should not be 

 obliged, after what occurred last night, to obtain your consent ; " 

 at which the lady bounced out of the room into the hall, fol- 

 lowed by her husband, where she remained until the carriage 

 came round. 



" Now, Aunt Gordon," said Conyers, " as that worthy pair 

 have decamped — where is Will Beauchamp % " 



" In the blue room up-stairs with Malcolm, having leeches 

 applied to his side ; but mind, Robert, you do not excite him by 

 talking too much, as Mr. Morgan says there is much inflamma- 

 tion about his wound, and he must be kept quiet." 



" You need not fear me," replied Bob, " and, in the mean- 

 time, Melville will tell you more of last night's adventures, and 

 Yernon's elopement with Miss Mervyn ; that's a capital joke, 

 by Jove ! — the biter bit." 



