blow that has come upon me, it is so strange that Mrs. Bligh should have threatened me, and-"

Bligh's face fell; he did not answer, but covered his face, and gave a half-groan.

"By Heaven," said Lugard, starting up and striking the table, "I am right! Answer; you owe it to her, you owe it to that justice and honour which is always in your mouth, to say distinctly, here and before us, what is at the bottom of this. Do you know, do you suspect even, that Mrs. Bligh has anything to do with it?"

Still Robert did not answer.

"O, Robert Bligh, don't let me think that!"

At length Bligh spoke, and very slowly. He was very pale. "I have not seen her for many weeks."

"Ah, there's a fencing witness for you!" said Lugard.

"I know nothing of her proceedings. What I know or suspect is nothing to you," Robert said, turning fiercely to Lugard.

"A bullying witness too."

"But this much I will say," added Bligh, turning to Diana: "I dare not help you now, after such suspicion, or such a charge. But still, let me implore you, be on your guard. Mind me in this, at least. Take care whom you trust, and do not be led by those who affect to be in your interest. I shall do what I can, though at a distance, to befriend you that you may count on."

He was gone. To Diana Lugard said with exultation, "After all, there is compensation. His victory is not so great. I shall match him in this yet, though he may be M.P. O Diana, I feel no disappointment, and have something to look forward to now."

Lady Margaret came. She wisely and authoritatively indorsed all that Lugard said. There could be no doubt the Blighs were at the bottom of the whole. She had always a sort of regard for the "dashing" character of Richard Lugard. He described his agent-the man he recommended for the situation-Page; he inspired Diana with hope. It would "blow over" under the skilful hands of Page, who would find perhaps there was nothing in it at all. They were two women. Once Diana faintly pleaded for her old friend; but Bligh's refusal to contradict the charge was conclusive.

CHAPTER XIV.

A SORE TRIAL.

It was a rueful business for poor Diana, going through the regular routine the heavy coach swinging along, the drive, the visit, the thousand and one antics and fadaises of fashion, with this sword swinging over her head as they rolled along. The worst was, that omniscient evening paper, the lively Regent-street Chronicle, which always had some

fresh tit-bit of social news, and a number of which was like a fiveminutes' chat with a clever clubman, had a short paragraph on the matter in the agreeable page devoted to faits divers:

"The class of persons that seem to be known to penny-a-liners only as gentlemen of the long robe,' are to have good work cut out for them, in a substantial cause célèbre which will affect the whole estates of a beautiful young heiress whose name must be very familiar to the Court-newsman. In the common language of ordinary Englishmen, a suit in ejectment has been commenced to recover possession of the estates of Gay Court, the plaintiff claiming as child of an elder brother of the late owner. There is said to be a French marriage,secret, of course,--an heir hidden away by an unnatural grandmother, and details of the most thrilling sort. When we add that Serjeant Hawker has been retained to lead for the plaintiff and state her case (she is a young girl, and called Eugenie), we have said enough to whet, and at the same time to stay, the stomach of the most voracious admirer of what is called the romance of real life. The famous correspondent of a certain daily paper even now must be sharpening his pen. We hope in a few days to be able to present our readers with an outline of this case from a special and exclusive source."

Mr. Page, the solicitor, was a young man of not more than thirty, who dressed exceedingly well, and was not by any means of the mouldy, ascetic class to which law-agents are supposed to belong. He had a bright face, got his clothes from the best tailors, and went to balls and parties. This brought him in contact with "officers and gentlemen" who asked him to dine at mess, and went to him when they got into any scrape. What riveted this connection, and quite brought him into leading military business, was a little affair down at Richmond on one of the Derby-days, when a party of gentlemen belonging to a Guards regiment, and crowded on a drag, were coming home filled with wine and spirits (of an animal sort), and passing through that pretty townlet, discharged a whole volley of oranges at an honest householder standing at his door and looking at the procession going by. Much damage was done to him, and one of the horses growing restive at the turn, the police had time to come up, and arrest two of the gentlemen identified by the burgess. Being released on bail, they appeared next morning, accompanied by Mr. Page, who had been with them, and actually dined with them that night; and he took so many points, and managed the whole so cleverly, that the two officers were discharged in triumph, and the burgess went home rather damaged in character with his neighbours. On this success, it seemed that nothing legal could be done in the army without Page's aid. That gentleman was always being invited to dine, which he delighted in; was introduced to generals, colonels, &c., and saw before him a prospect indeed of getting into high life at last. He was found very useful in arranging with creditors, advancing himself also, and was never a

pressing creditor. He used indeed to say, in a gentlemanly fashion, just as one brother-officer might say to another, that he must have that money back, if convenient, or, indeed, whether it was convenient or not, as he was in a terrible way himself; and though he would not like to press, still he could not be expected to suffer himself. It was this virtue that recommended him to Lugard, who threw himself entirely into his hands, or arms even. It was Page who arranged everything for the petition, who had furnished the money "to fee" voracious counsel; but it was Page who spoke to Lugard in a very altered tone on the morning after.

"This is a very blue look-out," he said gloomily. "I counted on this. I have had to raise the money, and was sure of success. I can't afford to lose it, or even to wait. I am quite run out among them all. What do you propose ?"

"Nothing," said Lugard, colouring. "You don't mean to say you're going to turn on me in this way, are you? By G-, that's too sharp practice altogether. I haven't a halfpenny. You must wait, as other fellows do, and give me time."

"I can not," said Mr. Page bluntly. "The money must be made out. You must sell."

Lugard started.

"Sell!" he cried; "is that it? Is that what you are at? So now we are coming out in our true colours, it seemsthe regular Shylock."

"I don't mind all this," said the other, smiling. "You know it must be done if I say it or wish it. I know I am under great obligations to you for various services, but that would be paying too high. Seriously, very seriously, what do you propose ?"

"I was going to propose a capital good thing," said Lugard savagely; "but you may do your worst now, and you shall never have it. A great lawsuit for a young girl of the best family and in the highest society. I'll find plenty that will help me, and help her too."

This charming opening had a deep effect on Mr. Page. They were the elements that could tempt him most. "I could tell you something myself," he said. "I know what you allude to; it is this suit of Miss Diana Gay. Well," he continued slowly, "I do not wish to be harsh or pressing, though there are others who will be harsh and pressing enough with me. If I see my way in this matter, and the thing looks at all feasible But you said the same of the election."

"So we thought-so we all thought," said Richard impetuously. "I must see her-see her at once," said Mr. Page; "for no time is to be lost."

Richard hesitated. than was in that writ.

"She knows no more than we do, nothing more It's all a mere imposture."

"Just as you please; but if I am to move in it, I must see her, and have her own instructions."

That evening Mr. Lugard brought his solicitor, Mr. Page, with

him to Diana. The current of her life had indeed changed. Even this interview had the air of part of the great responsibility that had so suddenly come upon her. When the two gentlemen arrived, and saw Diana alone, "on business," Lugard even noticed the anxious worn look in her eyes, the strained expression in her face. Lady Margaret was out on her business; for with this true lady of the world, as the hours of life shortened, they became more precious, in a ratio that seemed like the mysterious expanding power of the horse-shoe problem. She could not afford to waste these diamond moments in looking back. There was a charming girl she had just come to know, Miss Pollexfen -only a father, sure to inherit the vast Pollexfen estates, and no female relative to speak of. She was not a heartless or an unfeeling person, Lady Margaret; but the world was with her life. She must move on, and she could not help going to call on this young lady. Her sensitive worldly mind already was disturbed at the change she experienced. Perhaps she thought the world, her friend, had begun to look coldly on her as being unsuccessful, or associated with a failing

cause.

Poor Diana had nothing to tell, nothing to show but that awful and fatal paper which had been the first notice of the blow. Mr. Page, very deferential and with his eyes fixed on her, put some questions with due apologies: had she ever heard her father allude to the possibility of such a thing—had there ever been even the question asked — had this Gay left any children? Diana could not say; she was bewildered; she could not lay her mind to think.

"It's all a trumped-up business," said Lugard impetuously. "We'll expose them!" "We!" said Mr. Page, turning on him slowly. "How, pray? Will you let us hear your plan, then; what can you know, pray?" He paused a moment. "No, no; we must have no talking or boasting; this is too serious a matter."

"You think so?" said Diana, looking at him wistfully. "O, then, what is to be done ?"

"I am sorry, truly sorry, to speak in this way," said Mr. Page gently; "but it is for the best that you should know the truth: I think so indeed. I have experience of these sort of cases; and they would not dare to come forward unless there was something substantial to go upon. But are you willing to trust in me-in my labour, skill, and devotion to your interest ?—for I am always devoted to every client whose case I take up."

"Yes, I suppose so," said Diana helplessly.

Suppose so!" repeated Mr. Page, smiling. "Ah, I see; that will scarcely do. I have no wish to force myself on you. I was brought here, recollect."

"Of course, Diana," said Lugard, "you mean to give Page every authority? I did so."

"That has no connection with this matter," said the solicitor coldly. "Recollect this is not a business for mere legal duty-instructing counsel, drawing out a brief, as Lady Margaret's respectable firm would do. There must be plot and counterplot, prying and probing; mean, nasty, ungrateful, dirty work. Excuse me saying so, Miss Gay I mean ungrateful to me.”

Lugard walked impatiently over to the window, smiling scornfully. "Listen," went on Mr. Page. "Already I have my own theory about all this. I must see at once whether there is anything to support it; I shall look about it this very night. There is no hurry for a week or so, at least. I shall go at once, and shall see you again in a few days; and in the mean time, having heard what I shall report, you can then decide, Miss Gay."

66

"O yes," said Diana, "that is very fair."

"Further, we shall prepare a case, and have it laid before some eminent counsel-friend, or someone that Lady Margaret Bowman's solicitors shall approve of."

"But where are you going to ?" said Diana.

He shook his head. "Excuse me, we shall see all that by and by; because I may be wrong, and it will end in nothing. But that is all settled. It is quite understood, I hope, Miss Gay, the footing on which I come here and take up this business ?"