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Lady Loring。
Her ladyship called at the hotel yesterday evening； and had a
private interview with Romayne。 Her object； no doubt； was to
shake his resolution； and to make him submit himself again to
Miss Eyrecourt's fascinations。 What means of persuasion she used
to effect this purpose is of course unknown to us。 Penrose saw
Romayne after her ladyship's departure； and describes him as
violently agitated。 I can quite understand it。 His resolution to
take refuge in secret flight （it is really nothing less） speaks
for itself as to the impression produced on him； and the danger
from which； for the time at least； we have escaped。
Yes！ I say 〃for the time at least。〃 Don't let our reverend
fathers suppose that the money expended on my private inquiries
has been money thrown away。 Where these miserable love affairs
are concerned； women are daunted by no adverse circumstances and
warned by no defeat。 Romayne has left London； in dread of his own
weaknesswe must not forget that。 The day may yet come when
nothing will interpose between us and failure but my knowledge of
events in Miss Eyrecourt's life。
For the present； there is no more to be said。
CHAPTER XI。
STELLA ASSERTS HERSELF。
Two days after Father Benwell had posted his letter to Rome； Lady
Loring entered her husband's study； and asked eagerly if he had
heard any news of Romayne。
Lord Loring shook his head。 〃As I told you yesterday；〃 he said；
〃the proprietor of the hotel can give me no information。 I went
myself this morning to the bankers； and saw the head partner。 He
offered to forward letters； but he could do no more。 Until
further notice； he was positively enjoined not to disclose
Romayne's address to anybody。 How does Stella bear it？〃
〃In the worst possible way；〃 Lady Loring answered。 〃In silence。〃
〃Not a word even to you？〃
〃Not a word。〃
At that reply； the servant interrupted them by announcing the
arrival of a visitor； and presenting his card。 Lord Loring
started； and handed it to his wife。 The card bore the name of
〃Major Hynd；〃 and this line was added in pencil： 〃On business
connected with Mr。 Romayne。 〃
〃Show him in directly！〃 cried Lady Loring。
Lord Loring remonstrated。 〃My dear！ perhaps I had better see this
gentleman alone？〃
〃Certainly notunless you wish to drive me into committing an
act of the most revolting meanness！ If you send me away I shall
listen at the door。〃
Major Hynd was shown in； and was duly presented to Lady Loring。
After making the customary apologies； he said： 〃I returned to
London last night； expressly to see Romayne on a matter of
importance。 Failing to discover his present address at the hotel；
I had the hope that your lordship might be able to direct me to
our friend。〃
I am sorry to say I know no more than you do；〃 Lord Loring
replied。 〃Romayne's present address is a secret confided to his
bankers； and to no one else。 I will give you their names； if you
wish to write to him。
Major Hynd hesitated。 〃I am not quite sure that it would be
discreet to write to him； under the circumstances。〃
Lady Loring could no longer keep silence。 〃Is it possible； Major
Hynd； to tell us what the circumstances are？〃 she asked。 〃I am
almost as old a friend of Romayne as my husbandand I am very
anxious about him。〃
The Major looked embarrassed。 〃I can hardly answer your
ladyship；〃 he said； 〃without reviving painful recollections〃
Lady Loring's impatience interrupted the Major's apologies。 〃Do
you mean the duel？〃 she inquired。
Lord Loring interposed。 〃I should tell you； Major Hynd； that Lady
Loring is as well informed as I am of what happened at Boulogne；
and of the deplorable result； so far as Romayne is concerned。 If
you still wish to speak to me privately； I will ask you to
accompany me into the next room。〃
Major Hynd's embarrassment vanished。 〃After what you tell me；〃 he
said； 〃I hope to be favored with Lady Loring's advice。 You both
know that Romayne fought the fatal duel with a son of the French
General who had challenged him。 When we returned to England； we
heard that the General and his family had been driven away from
Boulogne by pecuniary difficulties。 Romayne； against my advice；
wrote to the surgeon who had been present at the duel； desiring
that the General's place of retreat might be discovered； and
expressing his wish to assist the family anonymously； as their
Unknown Friend。 The motive； of course； was； in his own words； 'to
make some little atonement to the poor people whom he had
wronged。' I thought it a rash proceeding at the time； and I am
confirmed in my opinion by a letter from the surgeon； received
yesterday。 Will you kindly read it to Lady Loring？〃
He handed the letter to Lord Loring。 Translated from the French；
it ran as follows：
〃SIRI am at last able to answer Mr。 Romayne's letter
definitely； with the courteous assistance of the French Consul in
London； to whom I applied when other means of investigation had
produced no result。
〃A week since the General died； circumstances connected with the
burial expenses informed the Consul that he had taken refuge from
his creditors； not in Paris as we supposed； but in London。 The
address is； Number 10； Camp's Hill； Islington。 I should also add
that the General； for obvious reasons； lived in London under the
assumed name of Marillac。 It will be necessary； therefore； to
inquire for his widow by the name of Madame Marillac。
〃You will perhaps be surprised to find that I address these lines
to you； instead of to Mr。 Romayne。 The reason is soon told。
〃I was acquainted with the late Generalas you knowat a time
when I was not aware of the company that he kept； or of the
deplorable errors into which his love of gambling had betrayed
him。 Of his widow and his children I know absolutely nothing。
Whether they have resisted the contaminating influence of the
head of the householdor whether poverty and bad example
combined have hopelessly degraded themI cannot say。 There is at
least a doubt whether they are worthy of Mr。 Romayne's benevolent
intentions toward them。 As an honest man； I cannot feel this
doubt； and reconcile it to my conscience to be the means； however
indirectly； of introducing them to Mr。 Romayne。 To your
discretion I leave it to act for the best； after this warning。〃
Lord Loring returned the lette