that both men and women liked to look upon--the index of an honorable,
sincere nature--not that it would have been called a handsome face,
so much as a pleasing and a distinguished one. Though but the son of a
country lawyer, and destined to be a lawyer himself, he had received
the training of a gentleman, had been educated at Rugby, and taken
his degree at Oxford. He advanced at once to the earl, in the
straightforward way of a man of business--of a man who has come on
business.

"Mr. Carlyle," said the latter, holding out his hand--he was always
deemed the most affable peer of the age--"I am happy to see you. You
perceive I cannot rise, at least without great pain and inconvenience.
My enemy, the gout, has possession of me again. Take a seat. Are you
staying in town?"

"I have just arrived from West Lynne. The chief object of my journey was
to see your lordship."

"What can I do for you?" asked the earl, uneasily; for a suspicion had
crossed his mind that Mr. Carlyle might be acting for some one of his
many troublesome creditors.

Mr. Carlyle drew his chair nearer to the earl, and spoke in a low
tone,--

"A rumor came to my ears, my lord, that East Lynne was in the market."

"A moment, sir," exclaimed the earl, with reserve, not to say hauteur
in his tone, for his suspicions were gaining ground; "are we to
converse confidentially together, as men of honor, or is there something