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Ishmael took from his breast-pocket the miniature of the Countess of Hurstmonceux, and opening it and gazing upon it, he said: "This is the likeness of the injured lady whose honor I have sworn to vindicate." "Is it Claudia's?" inquired Mr. Brudenell, stretching his hand for it. "No. it is not Lady Vincent's. Pardon me, upon second thoughts, sir.
Ishmael paused, and looked earnestly into the troubled face of Herman Brudenell. "Ishmael," he exclaimed, "of course I have known all along that you have been speaking of my wife, Lady Hurstmonceux.
"But now that the Viscount Vincent is dead, and Captain Dugald becomes the heir presumptive to the earldom of Hurstmonceux, his prospects are so much improved that I should think he would return to England without fear of annoyance from his creditors; such gentry being usually very complaisant to the heirs of rich earldoms." "I doubt if he will live to inherit the title and estate, Ishmael.
There was certainly fate in the next words she spoke: "This Captain Dugald was a near relative and great favorite with my first husband, the old Earl of Hurstmonceux; chiefly, I think, for the exuberant gayety of temper and disposition of the young man, that always kept the old one amused.
"Oh, Heaven!" breathed the young man, in sickening, deadly apprehension; for well he remembered that this Mr. Herman Brudenell was the husband of the Countess of Hurstmonceux at the very time of which he now spoke. "Ishmael, do not look so cruelly distressed. I loved her, she loved me in return, she crowned my days with joy, and " A gasping sound of suddenly suspended breath from Ishmael.
He told the judge of the satisfactory completion of his business with the solicitors of the Earl of Hurstmonceux; and that he had the documents effecting the restitution of Lady Vincent's property in his own safe-keeping; that he did not like to trust them to the mail, but would bring them in person when. he should return to Edinboro', which would be as soon as a little affair that he had in hand could be arranged; and he hinted that Mr.
"I think, sir," said the young man to the elder, "as we are in such good time, we had better go to my rooms at Magruder's and renovate our toilets before driving out to Cameron Court and presenting ourselves to Lady Hurstmonceux." "Yes, yes, certainly, Ishmael; for really I think after that dusty, smoky, cindery day's journey we should be all the better for soap and water and clean clothes.
"Nothing, madam; nothing for evermore," wailed Nora, without looking up or changing her posture. "Humph! I am glad to hear it, I am sure!" grunted Mrs. Brudenell. "Nothing? you say; nothing?" questioned Lady Hurstmonceux. "Nothing in this world, madam; nothing whatever! so be at ease." It was another wail of the storm-swept heart-strings.
"He is the son and heir of the Earl of Hurstmonceux, whose estates lie somewhere in the rich county of Sussex. The title did not come to the present earl in the direct line of descent. The late earl died childless, at a very advanced age; and the title fell to his distant relation, Lord Banff, the father of this young man, whose estates lie away up in the north of Scotland somewhere.
"Lady Hurstmonceux: If there is one element of saving comfort in my lost, unhappy life, it is the reflection that, though in an evil hour I made you my wife, you are not called by my name; but that the courtesy of custom continues to you the title won by your first marriage with the late Earl of Hurstmonceux; and that you cannot therefore so deeply dishonor my family.
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