Through no act of deception on the part of his wife, Lord Arleigh had believed that he knew her full history; but on their wedding-day he found that she was, to all appearance, the daughter of a man who was a convict.
Therefore--continued the story--the young couple had agreed to separate.
Lord Arleigh, although loving his wife most dearly, felt himself compelled to part from her.

He preferred that his ancient and noble race should become extinct rather than that it should be tarnished by an alliance with the offspring of crime.

Lady Arleigh agreed with her husband, and took up her abode at the Dower House, surrounded by every mark of esteem and honor.

Then the story reverted to the Earl of Mountdean's lost child, and how, at length, to the intense delight of the husband and father, it was discovered that Lady Arleigh was no other than the long-lost daughter of Lord Mountdean.
As the earl had said, the only obscure point in the narrative was how Lord Arleigh had been deceived.

Evidently it was not his wife who had deceived him--who, therefore, could it have been?
That the world was never to know.
It was extraordinary how the story spread, and how great was the interest it excited.