THE ABDUCTION DETERMINED UPON, 133 



CHAPTER XIII. 



About the same hour, seated in the dining-room at Marston, 

 after the ladies had retired, were Lords Mervyn and Yancourt, 

 discussing with Vernon their future plans of operation. 



" It is quite evident," remarked Yemen, " from Mrs. Har^ 

 court's altered tone to Lord Yancourt, coupled with Misfl 

 Douglas's retreat to the Priory, that some person (most probably 

 Mrs. Gordon) has thrown out strong hints, if nothing more, 

 about his lordship's position, and this week's delay may bring 

 many things to light. Melville thinks the heiress is decidedly 

 taken with him, and, to confess the truth, she gave some cause 

 for encouragement the night of the ball, and he will rake 

 London over to establish cei-tain reports about Lord Yancourt. 

 The time for deliberation is past. Is it now your intention, my 

 lord, to act or retreat 1 " 



" Certainly not the latter ! " replied Lord Yancourt, grind- 

 ing his teeth with passion. " I will be revenged on Melville 

 and the whole set, Conyers, Beauchamp, and Gordon ; nothing 

 shall turn me from my purpose now." 



"To-morrow, then," said Yernon, "we must make our 

 arrangements ' sub Jove frigido^ since walls, doors, and wain- 

 scots in this house seem to have ears ; there is a traitor among 

 us somewhere, of which I am well convinced ; but we have spies 

 in the enemy's camp also, who will give us all the information 

 we require." 



The week had expired, and Mrs. Harcourt's carriage was 

 ordered to bring Miss Douglas back from the Priory, about ten 

 o'clock in the evening, after a small party there ; when Mark 

 Kosier suddenly made his appearance at Bampton, about nine 

 o'clock, and jumping from a horse he had borrowed of a farmer, 

 rushed into the servants' hall. 



" Where is Mr. William ? " he inquired, in breathless haste, 

 of his friend, John, the footman. 



" In the dra^ving-room," was the reply. 



" Quick then, John, and whisper in his ear, ' Mark must see 

 him this moment ' — lose not a second." 



The message was delivered, and Beauchamp, springing 

 from his chair, instantly darted from the room. Mark met him 

 in the passage. " Quick, sir," he said, in a low voice. " Your 

 pistols, or Miss Blanche is lost 1 " 



