“He was here not long ago, my lord,” replied the Duke, coldly.  “He was kind enough to bring me from Hampton Court the warrant for my enlargement.  He went away in some haste and in some sorrow, not from anything I said, my lord, but from what his own good sense showed him must be the consequence of some discoveries which he had made regarding his own birth.  I must say he has in the business behaved most honourably, and, at the same time, most sensibly; and anything on earth that I can reasonably do to testify my gratitude to him for all the services he has rendered me and mine, I will willingly do it, should it cost me one half of my estates.”

Lady Laura had covered her eyes with her hands, but the tears trickled through her fingers in spite of all she could do to restrain them.  Lord Sunbury, too, was a good deal agitated, and showed it more than might have been expected in a man so calm and deliberate as himself.  He even rose from his chair, and walked twice across the room, before he replied.

“My lord duke,” he said, at length, “from what you say, I fear that both Wilton and your grace have acted hastily; and I am pained at it the more, because I believe that I myself am in some degree the cause of all the misery that he now feels, and of all the grief which I can clearly see is in the breast of this dear young lady.  I have done Wilton wrong, my lord, by a want of proper precaution and care—­most unintentionally and unknowingly; but still I have done him wrong, which I fear may be irreparable.  I must see, and endeavour, as far as it is in my power, to remedy what has gone amiss; but whether I can, or whether I cannot do so, I have determined to atone for my fault in the only way that it is possible.  The last heir in my family entail is lately dead:  my estates are at my own disposal.  I have notified to the King this day, that I have adopted Wilton Brown as my son and heir; and his Majesty has been graciously pleased to promise that a patent shall pass under the great seal, conveying to him my titles and honours at my death.  This is all that I know with certainty can be done at present; but there may be more done hereafter, in regard to which I will not enter at present; and oh! my lord,” he continued, seeing the Duke cast down his eyes in cold silence, “for my sake, for Wilton’s sake, for this young lady’s sake, at all events suspend your decision till we can see farther in this matter.”

The Duke raised his eyes to his daughter’s face, and yielded, though but in a faint degree, to her imploring look.

“I will suspend my decision, my lord, at your request,” he replied, “if it will give you any pleasure.  But Laura knows my opinion, and—­”