thought he. "It must be done--I will do it immediately."

He snatched up his pen, and began a letter.

"My dear mother, Miss Nugent--" He was interrupted by a knock at his
door.

"A gentleman below, my lord." said a servant, "who wishes to see you."

"I cannot see any gentleman. Did you say I was at home?"

"No, my lord, I said you was not at home; for I thought you would not
choose to be at home, and your own man was not in the way for me to
ask--so I denied you: but the gentleman would not be denied; he said
I must come and see if you was at home. So, as he spoke as if he was
a gentleman not used to be denied, I thought it might be somebody of
consequence, and I showed him into the front drawing-room. I think he
said he was sure you'd be at home for a friend from Ireland."

"A friend from Ireland! Why did not you tell me that sooner?" said
Lord Colambre, rising, and running down stairs. "Sir James Brooke, I
dare say."

No, not Sir James Brooke; but one he was almost as glad to see--Count
O'Halloran!

"My dear count! the greater pleasure for being unexpected."

"I came to London but yesterday," said the count; "but I could not be
here a day, without doing myself the honour of paying my respects to