The letter was from the Duke of Greenwich, informing Lord Oldborough
that an unfortunate discovery had been made of _an affair_ between the
Marchioness of Twickenham and a certain Captain Bellamy, which rendered an
immediate separation necessary.

"So!" thought Alfred, "my brother Godfrey had a fine escape of this fair
lady!"

"I have seen her once since I received that letter, and I never will see
her again," said Lord Oldborough: "that's past--all that concerns her is
past and irremediable. Now as to the future, and to what concerns myself. I
have been informed--how truly, I cannot say--that some time ago a rumour, a
suspicion of this intrigue was whispered in what they call the fashionable
world."

"I believe that your lordship has been truly informed," said Alfred; and he
then mentioned the whisper he had heard at the chapel.

"Ha!--Farther, it has been asserted to me, that a hint was given to the
Marquis of Twickenham of the danger of suffering that--what is the man's
name?--Bellamy, to be so near his wife; and that the hint was disregarded."

"The marquis did very weakly or very wickedly," said Alfred.

"All wickedness is weakness, sir, you know: but to our point. I have been
assured that the actual discovery of the intrigue was made to the marquis
some months previously to the birth of his child--and that he forbore to
take any notice of this, lest it might affect the legitimacy of that child.
After the birth of the infant--a boy--subsequent indiscretions on the part