176 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



"Vernon, after the ceremony had been performed by the 

 blacksmith, which, according to the laws of Scotland, riveted 

 him to Miss Mervyn, thought it advisable to visit Paris, until 

 Lord Mervyn' s anger had cooled down a little. He was loung- 

 ing one day down the Boulevards, when he met Lord Van- 

 court, and accosted him as usual, who, drawing haughtily up, 

 and refusing his proffered hand, said, "After the dishonour- 

 able trick you have served me, Mr. Vernon, I must beg to 

 decline your further acquaintance." 



" Pray explain yourself, my lord," replied Vernon, " as I 

 am the person aggrieved, and your conduct to me in refusing 

 to fulfil your engagement and pledged word of honour, at 

 Marston Castle, is a much more dishonourable transaction than 

 any I can have committed against your lordship." 



" My meaning, sir, is very plain ; by forestalling the horses 

 I had ordered, and assuming the same name I had taken, you 

 Avould have left me at the mercy of my pursuers." 



" As you would have left me, my lord, by not paying down 

 the sum you promised, and on which I fully depended, to 

 prosecute my journey to Scotland, and which, but for unex- 

 pected assistance, I had been unable to accomplish ; but as I 

 am informed a searching investigation is to be made into your 

 lordship's attempted abduction of Miss Douglas, which has 

 assumed a most serious character, from your violence in shoot- 

 ing Mr. Beauchamp, any little light I may be able to throw on 

 the subject will, I doubt not, be well received by your oppo- 

 nents, who, by the account transmitted to me, appear deter- 

 mined to prosecute your lordship to the utmost extremity." 



" And could you, Mr. Vernon, calling yourself a gentleman, 

 be guilty of such a mean, contemptible action as to turn 

 evidence against me and your own father-in-law ? — there is 

 more honour anion £ thieves, sir." 



a Very possibly, my lord, as thieves generally share the 

 booty obtained by their joint dexterity — equally. Your lord- 

 ship has failed to practise even their honesty, by keeping back 

 my share of the money you obtained from Lord Mervyn." 



" Oh, very well, Mr. Vernon ; I will endeavour then, as 

 speedily as possible to discharge my obligations to you." 



" The sooner the more acceptable, my lord, as my finances 

 are in a very low state just now, and my purse requires 

 replenishing ; perhaps your lordship will be good enough to 

 favour me with your present residence, and name what day I 

 may call for an arrangement of this little affair." 



