I wonder you did not carry her to the pest-house." "No doubt! Those who could desert her at such a time would probably be capable of that or any other baseness!" "My good friend," said the stranger, calmly, "your insinuation is not over-courteous, but I can forgive it, more for the sake of what you've done for her to-night than for myself." Sir Norman's lip curled.
"I'm obliged to you! And now, sir, as you have seen fit to question me in this free and easy manner, will you pardon me if I take the liberty of returning the compliment, and ask you a few in return ?" "Certainly; pray proceed, Sir Norman," said the stranger, blandly; "you are at liberty to ask as many questions as you please--so am I to answer them." "I answered all yours unhesitatingly, and you owe it to me to do the same," said Sir Norman, somewhat haughtily.

"In the first place, you have an advantage of me which I neither understand, nor relish; so, to place us on equal terms, will you have the goodness to tell me your name ?" "Most assuredly! My name," said the stranger, with glib airiness, "is Count L'Estrange." "A name unknown to me," said Sir Norman, with a piercing look, "and equally unknown, I believe, at Whitehall.

There is a Lord L'Estrange in London; but you and he are certainly not one and the same." "My friend does not believe me," said the count, almost gayly--"a circumstance I regret, but cannot help.

Is there anything else Sir Norman wishes to know ?" "If you do not answer my questions truthfully, there is little use in my asking them," said Sir Norman, bluntly.

"Do you mean to say you are a foreigner ?" "Sir Norman Kingsley is at perfect liberty to answer that question as he pleases," replied the stranger, with most provoking indifference.
Sir Norman's eye flashed, and his hand fell on his sword; but, reflecting that the count might find it inconvenient to answer any more questions if he ran him through, he restrained himself and went on.
"Sir, you are impertinent, but that is of no consequence, just now.