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The Duchesse was playing ilasses when I was

announced by the servant of ninety! Her face expressed soed with displeasure or no She

helped an at once

"Nicholas, explain yourself You tellon all the time, and you have not told

me I, as your mother's oldest friend!"

"Dear Duchesse, you are mistaken, it has only just been settled No one

was more surprised at my offer than Miss Sharp herself"

"You know her real nauessed, of course, fro you for the twenty-five thousand

francs, that they were in sohter of the Honorable Robert and Lady

Hilda Bulteel"

"She has told you all of the story, perhaps?--but you cannot knohat

the money was for, because the poor child does not know it herself It

isto marry into

the faave me a picture of her old friendship with Lady

Hilda, and of the dreadful cala off

with Bobby Bulteel

"It was one of those cases of mad love, Nicholas, which fortunately seeh for the truth I must say