360 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



"how could you treat my dear boy so unkindly, by writing such 

 a letter, which drove him nearly crazy 1 " 



" Because I thought my loss of fortune might " 



" What, child ! make him love you less 1 — Oh, Blanche ! 

 what a reflection on both our characters ! — why, that is the very 

 reason we should love you more, if possible, ten times more. 

 But did you not promise once to love and regard me for ever 

 as your own father 1 " 



" Yes, indeed, and I do respect and love you with all the 

 affection of a daughter." 



" Then recollect, my dear child, that all your troubles and 

 trials belong to me as well as yourself; we ought to have no 

 divided feelings or interests. But I see, dear girl, by your pallid 

 face, you have punished yourself as much as William. Come, 

 Blanche, give me another kiss, and promise never to be guilty 

 of such folly again." Pressing her to his heart once more, the 

 old squire then turned to Lady Malcolm, whom he shook 

 heartily by the hand, then to Mrs. Gordon, with whom he ex- 

 changed the most cordial greeting. We will now leave this 

 once more united happy family, and follow Lord Ayrshire to 

 his club, where he dined with Lord Henry Bayntun. The 

 evening being sultry, an extra quantity of claret was required, 

 which had the usual effect of inducing less restraint in Lord 

 Ayrshire's conversation, who, after his interview with Mr. 

 Harcourt, considering himself secure of the heiress, began to 

 make more particular inquiries of his friend respecting Mr. 

 Mangle and his client's pretensions to her fortune. 



" The money is all right enough," replied Lord Henry, " as 

 Mangle tells me the property now lets for ten thousand per 

 annum, and, from his agent's report in Scotland, is certainly 

 worth more." 



" Well, but who is the man, or where to be found, who has 

 set up this claim 1 " 



"On that point, Ayi'shire, my most particular friend, 

 Mangle, is not disposed to be very communicative, as I pumped 

 him pretty hard the other day without getting anything out ; 

 in fact, between ourselves, as Mangle is as arrant a scoundrel as 

 ever swung at Newgate, I've an idea this is a bit of speculation 

 of his own devising, and his client a man of straw. Otherwise, 

 why should he refuse to give his address? I have been thinking 

 this over, and tried him again this afternoon, with no better 

 Buccess. This looks deucedly suspicious, and my impression is 

 that this rascal has got some dec*^ scheme in his head, and by 



