"He promised me he would avoid Mr. Bunker--I
mean Mr. Essington."

The Countess started. She had vivid and exceedingly
distasteful recollections of Mr. Bunker.

"That man! Are they still acquainted?"

"Acquainted--oh yes; but I give Rudolph credit
for more sense and more truthfulness than to renew
their friendship."

The Countess pondered with a very grave expression
upon her face, while Alicia gently wiped her eyes and
ardently wished that her honest Rudolph was here to
defend his character and refute these baseless insinuations.
At length her mother said with a brisker air--

"Ah! I know exactly what we must do. I shall
make a point of seeing Sir Justin Wallingford tomorrow."

"Sir Justin Wallingford!"

"If anybody can obtain private information for us
he can. We shall soon learn whether the Baron has
been sent to Russia."

Alicia uttered a cry of protest. Sir Justin, ex-
diplomatist, author of a heavy volume of Victorian
reminiscences, and confidant of many public personages,