240 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



entertained a decided antipathy to him, having often told me 

 she felt quite terrified in his presence, from the fierce expression 

 of his looks when excited; and I am quite certain, had his 

 character and conduct been unexceptionable, nothing would 

 have induced her to marry Lord Vancourt. I hold in my 

 hand, my lord, a letter which of itself would prove the con- 

 coction of this plot at Marston Castle, written by one of its 

 chief projectors, wholly unsolicited by me (and whose hand- 

 writing is well known to many in this court), making a full 

 disclosure of this nefarious scheme. For reasons which your 

 lordship will understand when seeing the signature, I have 

 forborne to have this letter publicly read in court, but as at once 

 establishing the entire truth of Thomas Carter's evidence, I 

 now submit it to your lordship's perusal." 



The judge having read it carefully through, returned it to 

 Lord Malcolm, saying, "I fully appreciate your honourable 

 motives, Lord Malcolm, in withholding this incontestable proof 

 of the origin of this disgraceful conspiracy, which fully confirms 

 all Thomas Carter has asserted." 



" May I hope, then, my lord, you will remit a portion of 

 the punishment awarded to the prisoners at the bar, who have 

 both young families depending upon them? and considering 

 that they have already been imprisoned some time, I think six 

 months longer will answer the ends of justice." 



" The offence of which they have been convicted is a very 

 serious one, Lord Malcolm, but at your intercession the term 

 shall be abridged." 



The two prisoners fell on their knees, expressing their con- 

 trition and gratitude to Lord Malcolm for his kindness, who, 

 after thanking the judge, left the court. 



CHAPTER XXVIX. 



The hunting season had now drawn to its close, the last 

 appointment made for Bampton House, and invitations sent by 

 the old squire to all the neighbouring families for a grand 

 dinner party, to conclude with a ball in the evening on the day 

 when the hounds met on the lawn for the last day's hunting. 

 "With the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, whose conduct 

 in reference to their ward since the trial had been severely 



