22S THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" You found him, I dare say, as others have, a very agree- 

 able, entertaining companion, extremely courteous and deferen- 

 tial to ladies, and in no wise forward or presuming in their 

 society 1 " 



No answer being returned, Serjeant Wrangler paused a 

 moment, directing a smiling, self-satisfied look at the jury, to 

 attract their attention to this admission in his favour, adjusting, 

 at the same time, his gown with the air of counsel when con- 

 fident of success. 



" Confound that knave ! " whispered Malcolm to Mrs. 

 Cordon; "he will lead that timorous, unsuspecting girl into 

 admissions which will play the devil with us, and herself also ; 

 but stay here a moment, aunt, whilst I hand a line or two to 

 Whalley," which he wrote on the crown of his hat, and the 

 next moment a little cramped note was handed up on the point 

 of a stick by Malcolm's attorney to his counsel, which being 

 read, was answered by a nod of the head. Serjeant Wrangler 

 was meanwhile attempting to improve the case by other exactions. 



" There's no doubt, Miss Douglas, you felt pleased and 

 gratified, perhaps something more, by the polite attentions of 

 this handsome, highly-gifted young nobleman ? V 



" My lord," exclaimed Whalley, suddenly rising before his 

 opponent's question could be answered, " I object to that ques 

 tion and the course of cross-examination adopted by my learned 

 friend, who is trying to obtain admissions from Miss Douglas, 

 which, from her youth and inexperience of practice in law 

 courts, will be used to her disadvantage ; and I must caution 

 her not to notice these impertinent insinuations." 



" The last question," said the judge, " was scarcely fair, Mr. 

 Wrangler; conveying an inference which you had no right to 

 make." 



"I bow to your decision, my lord," replied Wrangler, no 

 wise disconcerted by this rebuke. "I can easily obtain my 

 point in another way." 



This little altercation, however, had opened Blanche's eyes 

 and understanding as to what Mr. Serjeant Wrangler was 

 aiming at ; and the spirit of the Douglases came to her rescue, 

 to retort upon her crafty interrogator. 



" You were in the habit, Miss Douglas, I believe, when at 

 Ivlarston Castle, of frequently driving and walking alone with 

 Lord Vancourt 1 " 



" No, I was not,'*' answered Blanche, in a firm voice, which 

 was distinctly audible in the court. 



