“Nay, nay,” said the Earl, “we will say no more upon the subject then, at present, my lord:  But as your grace has the order for your liberation, and there can be no great pleasure in staying in this place, perhaps your grace and Lady Laura will get into my carriage, which is now in the court; and while your servants clear your apartments, and proceed to make preparations at Beaufort House, I trust you will take your supper at my poor dwelling.  There I may have an opportunity, my lord,” he added, turning with a graceful bow to the Duke, “of telling you, who are a politician, some great political changes that are taking place, though I fear, that as I expect no guests of any kind, and have hitherto preserved a strict incognito, I shall have no way of entertaining this fair lady for the evening.”

Laura shook her head with a melancholy air, but made no reply.  The Duke, however, was taken with the bait of political news, and accepted the invitation, merely saying, “I take it for granted, my lord, that Mr. Brown is not at your house.”

“As far as I know,” replied Lord Sunbury, “he is not aware of my being in England.  I came to seek him here, wishing to tell him various matters; but up to this time, I have neither written to him, nor heard from him, since I have been in this country.  And now, my lord,” he continued, taking up the warrant from the table, “you had better let me go and speak with the Governor’s deputy here, concerning this paper, and in five minutes I will be back, to conduct you, at liberty, to my house.”

Thus saying, he left them; and Lady Laura, certainly calmed and comforted by his kindly manner, and the hopeful tone in which he spoke, prepared with pleasure to go with him.  Her father mentioned Wilton’s name no more; but gave some orders to his servant and, by the time that they were ready to go, Lord Sunbury had returned with the Lieutenant of the Governor, announcing that the gates of the Tower were open to the Duke.  The Earl then offered his hand to the fair girl, and led her down to his carriage, saying in a low tone as they went, “Fear not, my dear young lady; we shall find means to soften your father in time.”

After a long and tedious drive through the dull streets of London, the carriage of the Earl of Sunbury stopped at the door of his house in St. James’s Square.  None of his servants appeared yet in livery, and the man who opened the door was his own valet.  He seemed not a little astonished at the sight of a lady and gentleman with his master; and the Earl was as much surprised to hear loud voices from the large dining-room on his left hand.

The Duke and Lady Laura, however, entered, and were passing on; but the valet, as soon as he had closed the door, advanced and whispered a few words to the Earl.

The Earl questioned him again in the same tone, put his hand for a moment to his forehead, and then said, addressing the Duke, “There are some persons up stairs, my lord duke, that we would rather you did not see at this moment.  I will speak to them for an instant, and be down with you directly, if you will go into the dining-room.  You will there, I understand, find Lord Byerdale and his son, the latter of whom, it seems, has come hither for my support and advice, and has been followed by his father.”