court, telling me your son was in the dock. I hastened there and found
it true. You may imagine how quickly I followed him and implored of him
to tell me the mystery, for mystery I feel sure there is. Instead of
looking ashamed of himself and miserable, he had a light in his face
that puzzled me. I blamed him, told him the consequences--how his life
would be useless to him after this, but he only smiled; my words made no
impression on him; he evidently derived comfort and support from some
source known to himself and no others."

"And is it possible?" asked Lady Carruthers, with ghastly face; "does he
lie in prison now?"

"He does indeed, and there he must remain until the six months are
ended."




CHAPTER V.

Lady Carruthers.


My lady rose from her seat with an air of almost tragical dignity.

"My son in prison!" she cried; "I cannot believe it. What has come over
him? Can you explain the mystery to me, Mr. Forster?"

"I cannot--the only thing that occurs to me is that he has gone to this
count's room for some purpose that he will confide to no one, and that