.

Well, I declare! Freddy!--why, Freddy, what's the matter ?" The words of Mrs.Bollington-Watts seemed as though they had been spoken into empty air.

The young man was leaning forward in his place, the reins loosely held in his hand, and a groom was already upon the path, recovering the whip which had slipped from his fingers.

His eyes were fixed not upon Mrs.Bollington-Watts nor upon Lady Elisabeth, but upon Maraton.

He was a young man of harmless and commonplace appearance but his features were at that moment transformed.