that very day," said Lady Pumpton, àpropos to his departure. "You must stop for that, and go down the day after."

"Didn't you know I have never been presented !"

"Not, really!"

"Yes, really! it's a fact I assure you; and what is more, I have put it off so long, I feel somewhat ashamed to do allegiance for the first time in my old age."

"I suspect that's not the only reason. I believe you to be a bit of a Chartist."

"No, upon my honour! my principal objection is having to undergo the serio-comic pantomime of the thing. I am as loyal as any one of her Majesty's subjects, but I don't see that I prove my loyalty by performing a ceremony, the climax of which would probably be to tumble over my sword, and stick the point into the eye of the gentleman usher behind me, as I fell head foremost into the Queen's lap."

What an idea! but you surely would do nothing of the kind; you have only to kiss the hand at the right time, and—”

"Ah! but that's precisely the difficulty. Fancy if, by accident, one should give a Ismack that would make the whole court jump."

"Nonsense! you would do it perfectly. Come, you shall rehearse. shall rehearse. I am the Queen.

Your name is called. You walk up sothat's right; now kneel so-perfection! now kiss my hand, so."

By God! I have caught you at last, have I?" roared a voice of thunder.

Lord Pumpton stood in the centre of the

room.

Pierce was on one knee; with the fair hand of the imaginary queen pressed to his lips. He sprang to his feet in time to defend himself from the blow Lord Pumpton aimed at him with a heavy walking-stick. "Scoundrel," muttered his lordship, grind

VOL. III.

Q

ing his teeth with fury, "get out of my house, or I'll murder you."

"You shall answer for this blow, Sir," said Pierce, white and trembling.

"Get out, Sir, or I'll thrash you till you can't move."

"What?" screamed Pierce, springing at him like a tiger; "do you threaten me?"

Henry! Pumpton!" cried his wife, throwing herself between the combatants and clinging to her husband's arm! "for God's sake-"

"Let me go, you

you."

or I'll strike

'Mr. More," said Lady Pumpton, “leave us-I entreat you-this instant leave us."

"Yes," said Pierce, as he shook off his opponent's grasp, "this is no way to settle disputes of this kind. Lord Pumpton," he continued, with his hand on the door, “your foul suspicions are an insult to your wife you can never atone for. Your conduct to me

can be satisfactorily explained without difficulty, and without loss of time!"

He rushed from the house, jumped into a

cab, and drove straight to No.

Jermyn

Street, the lodgings of Mr. Arthur Long

vale.

CHAPTER XI.

"Is Mr. Longvale at home?" he inquired

of the valet who opened the door.

cr

Yes, Sir? please to walk up."

"Is he alone?"

"No, Sir, there are two gentlemen with him."

"Who are they? do you know?"

"Lord Drivletale and Mr. Sillibub."

"The devil take 'em."

"Sir ?"

"Have they been here long?"
"No, Sir, not above half-an-hour."

"Confound it, I'll call again."