Duke not like to make disturbance--as royalty present." "The journal dropped from my hands.

At that moment the girl of the house gave me a note from Lady Margaret,--alluded to the paragraph; wondered who was 'The Stranger;' hoped to see me that night at Lord A-----'s, to whose party I said I had been asked; speak then more fully on those matters I had touched on!--in short, dear Paul, a tender epistle! All great men are fatalists,--I am one now; fate made me a madman.

In the very face of this ominous paragraph I mustered up courage, and went that night to Lord A-----'s.

The fact is, my affairs were in confusion,--I was greatly in debt.

I knew it was necessary to finish my conquest over Lady Margaret as soon as possible; and Lord A-----'s seemed the best place for the purpose.