LORD VANCOURT EXPOSED. 149 



shall remain under my protection, as I also am Iier guardian ', 

 but should you think proper to question our authority for so 

 acting, last night's transactions shall be laid before the Lord 

 Chancellor, and we do not fear the result." 



" Oh ! I suppose," said Mrs. Hareourt, sneeringly, " Mrs. 

 Gordon intends to keep her niece here to marry her favourite, 

 Mr. Beauchamp." 



"Even if I did," replied Mrs. Gordon, "it would not be 

 quite so bad as conniving at her being carried away by a 

 married man ! " 



" Lord Yancourt is not a married man, and I defy you to 

 the proof, madam ! " 



" Here it is, then," exclaimed Melville, who had entered the 

 room with Bob Conyers, and heard the last sentence. " Here is 

 a copy of the marriage certificate of Edward, Lord Vancourt, 

 and Signora Marinetta, solemnised at Florence five years ago, 

 and duly attested by witnesses. I have seen the original from 

 which this is taken, and have already written to a friend at 

 Florence to send me all further particulars." 



" And what business is this of yours, sir ? " demanded Mrs. 

 Hareourt, rising in great indignation from her chair. 



" It became my business, madam," replied Melville, " when 

 my word was questioned the other night by Lord Yancourt at 

 the ball, and it shall be my business still, to prove him what I 

 then asserted he was — a married man." 



" Oh, very well, sir," said the lady, ringing the bell violently 

 for her carriage j " but you shall not marry.my niece, notwith- 

 standing." 



" Were I so disposed," replied the captain, " I should not be 

 obliged, after what occurred last night, to obtain your consent ; " 

 at which the lady bounced out of the room into the hall, fol- 

 lowed by her husband, where she remained until the carriage 

 came round. 



" Now, Aunt Gordon," said Conyers, " as that worthy pair 

 have decamped — where is Will Beauchamp ? " 



" In the blue room up-stairs with Malcolm, having leechea 

 applied to his side ; but mind, Robert, you do not excite him by 

 talking too much, as Mr. Morgan says there is much inflamma- 

 tion about his wound, and he must be kept quiet." 



" You need not fear me," replied Bob, " and, in the mean- 

 time, Melville will tell you more of last night's adventures, and 

 Yernon's elopement with Miss Mervyn ; that's a capital joke, 

 by Jove ! — the biter bit." 



