CHAPTER VII.

"/Don John./ How canst thou cross this marriage?

"/Borachio./ Not honestly, my lord; but so covertly, that no
dishonesty shall appear in me, my lord."--/Much Ado about Nothing/.

FERRERS and Cesarini were both sitting over their wine, and both had
sunk into silence, for they had only one subject in common, when a note
was brought to Lumley from Lady Florence.--"This is lucky enough!" said
he, as he read it. "Lady Florence wishes to see you, and incloses me a
note for you, which she asks me to address and forward to you. There it
is."

Cesarini took the note with trembling hands: it was very short, and
merely expressed a desire to see him the next day at two o'clock.

"What can it be?" he exclaimed; "can she want to apologise, to explain?"

"No, no, no! Florence will not do that; but, from certain words she
dropped in talking with me, I guess that she has some offer to your
worldly advantage to propose to you. Ha! by the way, a thought strikes
me."

Lumley eagerly rang the bell. "Is Lady Florence's servant waiting for
an answer?"