36 G THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



Lord Beauchamp had obtained the consent of her other guar- 

 dian, Mrs. Gordon." 



" Oh, very well, sir," replied the Marquis, rising with great 

 dignity and indignation ; " then I have the honour to wish 

 you good morning, sir;" and with head erect, he stalked 

 fierecely out of the room, cursing Harcourt in his heart, as he 



walked down-stairs, for a mean, cowardly driveller. " D n 



the fellow ! " muttered Lord Ayrshire ; " I saw by his quivering- 

 lip he had sold me, and would have laid my cane over his 

 shoulders, but for the expose of the whole affair, and that 

 infernal paper I was fool enough to sign. Yet, confound the 

 fellow, that I must recover at any rate j " and he turned quickly 

 back for that purpose, and again entering the room, said, " I had 

 forgotten, sir, a little document I was foolishly induced by you 

 to sign yesterday." 



" Oh, certainly, my lord ; I will deliver it to you immedi- 

 ately ; " taking it from his desk, and expressing his regret at 

 not being able to carry out his lordship's wishes. 



" I will thank you, Mr. Harcourt, notwithstanding, to 

 observe your ' promise of secresy in this transaction, or the 

 consequence may be as unpleasant to yourself as to me." 



" Oh, certainly, my lord," replied Harcourt ; " nothing which 

 has occurred between us shall ever escape my lips." 



" I hope not, sir, for your sake as well as my own," growled 

 Lord Ayrshire, who, crumpling the paper in his hand, turned 

 majestically to the door. 



CHAPTER XLY. 



The marquis, furious at his rejection, and Mr. Harcourt's 

 duplicity, vv-as in no very complacent humour when he met Lord 

 Henry three hours afterwards at his club ; and he at once said 

 he was so thoroughly disgusted with Harcourt's conduct in 

 trying to make a Jew bargain with him, that he had declined 

 having anything more to do with him. 



" Then you have resigned all pretensions to Miss Douglas, 

 Ayrshire % Is that fact ? " 



" Exactly, Bayntun." 



" What, after the agreement you signed yesterday ? How 

 is this 1 " 



