and said, "If the dear child thought I could be of any service, I should
only be too glad to stay with her."
"I knew she would appreciate Lady Mesthyn's sympathy," said the
ingenious consul quickly, "but I really think the question is more a
business one--and"--
"Ah, yes," said the old lady, shaking her head, "it's dreadful, of
course, but we must all think of THAT!"
As the carriage drove away, the consul hurried back a little viciously
to his fair countrywoman. "There!" he said, "I have done it! If I have
managed to convey either the idea that you are a penniless orphan, or
that I have official information that you are suspected of a dynamite
conspiracy, don't blame me! And now," he said, "as I have excused myself
on the ground that I must devote myself to this dreadful business of
yours, perhaps you'll tell me WHAT it really is."
"Not a word more," said Miss Desborough; "except," she added,--checking
her smile with a weary gesture,--"except that I want to leave this
dreadful place at once! There! don't ask me any more!"
There could be no doubt of the girl's sincerity. Nor was it the
extravagant caprice of a petted idol. What had happened? He might have
believed in a lovers' quarrel, but he knew that she and Lord Algernon
could have had no private interview that evening. He must perforce
accept her silence, yet he could not help saying:--
"You seemed to like the place so much last night. I say, you haven't
seen the Priory ghost, have you?"
"The Priory ghost," she said quickly. "What's that?"
"The old monk who passes through the cloisters with the sacred oil, the
bell, and the smell of incense whenever any one is to die here. By Jove!
it would have been a good story to tell instead of this cock-and-bull
one about your property. And there WAS a death here to-day. You'd have
added the sibyl's gifts to your other charms."
"Tell me about that old man," she said, looking past him out of the
window. "I was at his cottage this morning. But, no! first let us go
out. You can take me for a walk, if you like. You see I am all ready,
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