No ordinary tale of gallantry could have shocked them, or provoked them to aught but a contemptuous mirth at the expense of the victim, male or female.

They would have thought little the worse of a man for running off with the wife, say, of one of his acquaintance; they would have thought nothing of his running off with a sister or a daughter--so long as it was not of their own.

All these were fair game, and if the husband, father or brother could not protect the wife, sister or daughter that was his, the more shame to him.

But though they might be fair game, the game had its rules--anomalous as it may seem.

These rules Lord Rotherby--if the tale Mr.Caryll told was true--had violated.