find out where he lived, and he did. I thought if the people saw me and
the carriage there, they would guess what I wanted. I do hope he will
have a full concert."

"I am sure he will," replied Mr. Carlyle, as he released her hand. And
Lady Isabel signed to the carriage to drive on.

As Mr. Carlyle turned away, he met Otway Bethel, a nephew of Colonel
Bethel's, who was tolerated in the colonel's house because he had no
other home, and appeared incapable to making himself one. Some persons
persisted in calling him a gentleman--as he was by birth--others a
_mauvais sujet_. The two are united sometimes. He was dressed in a
velveteen suit, and had a gun in his hand. Indeed, he was rarely seen
without a gun, being inordinately fond of sport; but, if all tales
whispered were true, he supplied himself with game in other ways than
by shooting, which had the credit of going up to London dealers. For the
last six months or near upon it, he had been away from West Lynne.

"Why, where have you been hiding yourself?" exclaimed Mr. Carlyle. "The
colonel has been inconsolable."

"Come, no gammon, Carlyle. I have been on the tramp through France and
Germany. Man likes a change sometimes. As to the revered colonel, he
would not be inconsolable if he saw me nailed up in a six-foot box, and
carried out feet foremost."

"Bethel, I have a question to ask you," continued Mr. Carlyle, dropping
his light manner and his voice together. "Take your thoughts back to the
night of Hallijohn's murder."