sought shelter—­see if this Earl of Sunbury, with whom, doubtless, you have been plotting your father’s destruction—­see if this undermining politician, this diplomatic mole, will give you means to pay your debts, or furnish you with bread to feed yourself and your pretty companion there!  No, sir, no!  Lead forth, to the beggary to which you have brought her, the beggarly offspring of that runagate Jacobite!  Lead her forth, and with a train of babies at your heels, sing French ballads in the streets to gain yourself subsistence.—­You thought that I had no clue to your proceedings.  I fancied she was your mistress, and that mattered little, for it is the only thing fitted for the beggarly exile’s daughter.  But since she is your wife, look to it to provide for her yourself!”

He must have heard somebody enter the room, but he turned not the least in that direction, carried away by the awful whirlwind of his fury.  He was even still going on, without looking round; but it was a woman’s voice, the voice of a gentle, but noble-hearted woman that stopped him.  Lady Laura, the moment she entered the room, recognised in the bending form of her who sat weeping and trembling at the table, one who had been kind to her in danger and in terror, and the first impulse was to go to her support.  But when she heard the insulting and gross words of the Earl of Byerdale, her spirit rose, her heart swelled with indignation, and with courage, which she might not have possessed in her own case, she turned full upon him, exclaiming,—­

“For shame, Earl of Byerdale!—­for shame!  This to a woman in a woman’s presence!  If you have forgotten that you are a gentleman, have you forgotten that you are a man?” And going quickly forward, she threw her arm round the neck of the weeping girl, exclaiming, “Look up, dear Caroline:  look up, sweet lady!  You are not without support!  A friend is near you!”

Lady Sherbrooke looked up, saw who it was, and instantly cast herself upon her bosom.

The Earl of Byerdale turned his eyes from Laura to the Duke, evidently confounded and surprised, and put his hand upon his brow, as if to collect his thoughts.  The next minute, however, he said, with a sneering air, “Ha, pretty lady, is that you?  Ha, my lord duke, have you escaped from the Tower?  You are somewhat early in your proceedings!  Why, it wants half an hour of night!  But doubtless the impatient bridegroom was eager to have all complete, and I have now to congratulate my Lady Laura Brown upon her father’s sudden enfranchisement, and her marriage with my dear cousin’s natural child.  Ma’am, I am your most obedient, humble servant.  Duke, I congratulate you upon the noble alliance you have formed.  You come well, you come happily, to witness me curse that base and degenerate boy.  But it is a pity you did not bring the happy bridegroom, Mr. Brown, that we might have two fine specimens of noble alliances in one room.”

“You are mistaken, sir,” said the Duke furiously; “you are mistaken, sir.  Your villany is discovered; your base treachery has been told by a man who was too honourable to take advantage of it, even for his own happiness.”