A great deal of time was consumed by Lady Eversleigh in writing this
letter, and the darkness had fallen long before it was finished. When
she rang for lights, she took no notice of the person who brought them,
and she directed that her dinner should not be served until she rang
for it. Thus no interruption of her task occurred, until Mr. Larkspur,
looking very little the better for his rest and refreshment, presented
himself before her. Lady Eversleigh was just beginning to tell him what
she had done, when he interrupted her, by saying, in a tone which would
have astonished any of his intimates, for there was a touch of real
feeling in it, apart from considerations of business--
"I'm afraid we're too late. I'm very much afraid Carrington has been
one too many for us, and has done the trick."
"What do you mean?" asked Lady Eversleigh, rising, in extreme
agitation, and turning deadly pale. "Has any harm come to Lionel Dale?"
Then Mr. Andrew Larkspur told Lady Eversleigh the report which had
reached the town, and of whose truth a secret instinct assured them
both, only too completely. They were, indeed, powerless now; the enemy
had been too strong, too subtle, and too quick for them. Mr. Larkspur
did not remain long with Lady Eversleigh; but having counselled her to
keep silence on the subject, to ask no questions of any one, and to
preserve the letter she had written, which Mr.
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