184: THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



suspected to be a married man. Even an Irishman, sir, wild 

 and impetuous as we are, would never have been guilty of such 

 an act as this." 



" Well, then," said Vernon, " I will write to Lord Malcolm, 

 and offer to give him every information about Lord Vancourt, 

 on condition of his sending me a draft on some banker in Paris 

 for two hundred pounds." 



" Then, Mr. Vernon," said Fitzgerald, " I must beg, for the 

 future, we may be strangers to each other, as we were before 

 this unhappy affair." 



" Stay, Fitzgerald ; tell me what you would have me do, for I 

 am indeed most grateful for all your undeserved kindness." 



" Sign the letter I shall dictate, containing a full confession 

 of your sorrow and contrition for your unmanly conduct, with 

 all you know of Lord Vancourt and his proceedings, and the 

 promise that you will give evidence, if required, at the trial, 

 without any reservation or stipulation whatever. This, sir, is 

 the course which any man, pretending to the name and 

 character of a gentleman, would without hesitation pursue, and 

 I shall add a postscript informing Lord Malcolm of your con- 

 dition, and your wife's unfortunate and destitute state." 



" It shall be done," said Vernon, without hesitation. 



Fitzgerald then resumed his seat, and wrote from Vernon's 

 mouth all the particulars, to which his own name and that of 

 the servant girl were attached as witnesses. 



" Very well, Vernon, that is a step in the right direction, 

 and I trust the severe lesson you have received will prevent 

 you ever again using false dice or conniving at the abduction of 

 an inoffensive girl. You have now a young wife dependent on 

 vour rectitude of conduct, unless you would also consign her to 

 misery and disgrace ; throughout your severe sufferings this 

 poor girl has watched and tended you, night and day, with 

 all the care and anxiety of a ministering angel, and for her 

 sake I implore you to lead a new life." 



" I know and feel it all, Fitzgerald, and, for her sake, I now 

 swear never to touch dice or cards again." 



" Keep to your good resolution, Vernon ; we may then still 

 be friends, and you may rely on my assisting you in every way 

 I can. Now no more — I will post the letter, and see you again 

 in the morning." 



A few days afterwards a letter was received from Lord 

 Malcolm, expressing his sorrow for Vernon's deplorable situa- 

 tion, with a draft on his bankers in London for a hundred 



