"Dear Frank," she said; "You only know of my disgrace and humiliation; do not betray me. No one else in the world knows. I confide in your honour. Do not be angry with me, or think I doubt it. I know you would not betray a woman's secret; you are too manly for that. Don't come to see me. I must have time to think.-Yours, L."

"She shall have time enough to think!" he muttered angrily to himself.

"And she shall have something to think about.”

He held the note towards the candle, as though to burn it; then, as some one knocked at the door, he threw it into his desk and cried out, "Come in."

On such a trifle can depend the fate and future of a human life!

It was only the boatmen whom he had ordered to be there at sunrise, and who were to row him to Thalersberg, where he

had promised to meet some friends, and go with them for a week's pedestrian tour in the mountains.

He dismissed the boatmen and went to bed.

CHAPTER XIII.

PEACE, FORGIVENESS, AND
FAREWELL.

MR. DALRYMPLE did not go home that night. He slept at the Golden Eagle. The next day he was for a few hours in his own room looking over papers; but after changing his dress he again went out, desiring his man to take a note for him. to Countess Stadion's, and to bring the answer to the club, where he would be early in the afternoon.

He did not see Lesbia.

She heard his step, but remained locked in her room.

As he entered the club about four o'clock, he found it full of officers, who were busily discussing some matter connected with mess arrangements, and he

therefore walked into the billiard-room. It was nothing to him whether they rebuilt their dining-room or dismissed their cook.

A few minutes later his servant put a note into his hands. It ran as follows:"I shall be at home from seven o'clock till eight this evening."

There was no signature.

Several young officers now entered the billiard-room, and a few minutes later Prince Immensikoff made his appearance. There was a dispute about the play. Dalrymple was called upon to be umpire. In moving towards the table he passed the Prince.

"Good evening, Prince," he said.

The Prince took no notice of him. Preoccupied with his own affairs, Dalrymple did not notice the fact that his greeting was not returned.

The dispute was adjusted. Dalrymple was a first-rate hand at billiards, the Prince not inferior. It was a treat for the neophytes to watch these two skilful players opposed to each other.

'What do you say to a game, Prince?" asked Dalrymple.

Again there was no answer.

A purple flush passed over Dalrymple's face, and disappeared under the roots of his hair.

Prince," he said, in a loud voice, “I had the honour of speaking to you."

Thus adjured, the Prince turned and looked at him. His steely blue eyes glittered, but without raising his voice he replied calmly, "And I, sir, had the honour of not replying to you. I only play with gentlemen."

"Do you want your money?" shouted Dalrymple exasperated.