"Many thanks for the honor." And Edward's lip curled with intense scorn.

But Gerald sat like a statue, his teeth set, his eyes fiery, his brows

bent, waiting for the end.

"The passionate boy nearly killed his brother, but I turned the

affair to good account, and bewitched Monsieur by playing nurse,

till Vashti (the icicle) interfered. Then I enacted injured virtue,

and kept out of his way, knowing that he would miss me, I mystified

him about S. by sending a letter where S. would not get it, and got

up all manner of soft scenes to win this proud creature. I get on

well and meanwhile privately fascinate Sir J. by being daughterly

and devoted. He is a worthy old man, simple as a child, honest as

the day, and generous as a prince. I shall be a happy woman if I win

him, and you shall share my good fortune; so wish me success.

"This is the third, and contains something which will surprise you,"

Edward said, as he lifted another paper.

"Hortense: "I've done what I once planned to do on another occasion. You know

my handsome, dissipated father married a lady of rank for his second

wife. I never saw Lady H----d but once, for I was kept out of the

way. Finding that this good Sir J. knew something of her when a

girl, and being sure that he did not know of the death of her little

daughter, I boldly said I was the child, and told a pitiful tale of

my early life. It worked like a charm; he told Monsieur, and both

felt the most chivalrous compassion for Lady Howard's daughter,

though before they had secretly looked down on me, and my real

poverty and my lowliness. That boy pitied me with an honest warmth

and never waited to learn my birth. I don't forget that and shall

repay it if I can. Wishing to bring Monsieur's affair to a

successful crisis, I got up a theatrical evening and was in my

element. One little event I must tell you, because I committed an

actionable offense and was nearly discovered. I did not go down to

supper, knowing that the moth would return to flutter about the

candle, and preferring that the fluttering should be done in

private, as Vashti's jealousy is getting uncontrollable. Passing

throught the gentlemen's dressing room, my quick eye caught sight of

a letter lying among the costumes. It was no stage affair, and an

odd sensation of fear ran through me as I recognized the hand of S.

I had feared this, but I believe in chance; and having found the

letter, I examined it. You know I can imitate almost any hand. When

I read in this paper the whole story of my affair with S., truly

told, and also that he had made inquiries into my past life and

discovered the truth, I was in a fury. To be so near success and

fail was terrible, and I resolved to risk everything. I opened the

letter by means of a heated knife blade under the seal, therefore

the envelope was perfect; imitating S.'s hand, I penned a few lines

in his hasty style, saying he was at Baden, so that if Monsieur

answered, the reply would not reach him, for he is in London, it

seems. This letter I put into the pocket whence the other must have

fallen, and was just congratulating myself on this narrow escape,

when Dean, the maid of Vashti, appeared as if watching me. She had

evidently seen the letter in my hand, and suspected something. I

took no notice of her, but must be careful, for she is on the watch.

After this the evening closed with strictly private theatricals, in

which Monsieur and myself were the only actors. To make sure that he

received my version of the story first, I told him a romantic story

of S.'s persecution, and he believed it. This I followed up by a

moonlight episode behind a rose hedge, and sent the young gentleman

home in a half-dazed condition. What fools men are!"




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