 of her brother, Lord Westhaven, to his youngest sister, and
related also to himself, Lord Clancarryl immediately sought Delamere;
and was surprised to find, that instead of receiving his advances with
warmth or even with politeness, he hardly returned them with common
civility, and seemed to attend to nothing that was said. The first pause
in the conversation, however, Delamere took advantage of to enquire
after Colonel Fitz-Edward.

'My brother,' answered Lord Clancarryl, 'left us only three days ago.'

'For London, my Lord?'

'No; he is gone with two other friends on a kind of pleasurable
tour.--They hired a sloop at Cork to take them to France.'

'To France!' exclaimed Delamere--'Mr. Fitz-Edward gone to France?'

'Yes,' replied Lord Clancarryl, somewhat wondering at the surprise
Delamere expressed--'and I promoted the plan as much as I could; for
poor George is, I am afraid, in a bad state of health; his looks and his
spirits are not what they used to be. Chearful company, and this little
tour, may I hope restore them. But how happens it that he knew not, Sir,
of your return? He was persuaded you were still abroad; and expressed
some pleasure at the thoughts of meeting you when you least expected
it.'

'No, no, my Lord,' cried Delamere, in a voice rendered almost
inarticulate by contending passions--'his hope was not to meet _me_. He
is gone with far other designs.'

'What designs, Lord Delamere?' gravely asked Lord Clancarryl.

'My Lord,' answered Delamere, recollecting himself, 'I mean not to
trouble you on this matter. I have some business to adjust with Mr.
Fitz-Edward; and since he is not here, have only to request of your
Lordship information when he returns, or whither a letter may follow
him?'

'Sir,' returned Lord Clancarryl with great gravity, 'I believe I can
answer for Colonel Fitz-Edward's readiness to settle _any business_ you
may desire to adjust with him; and I wish, since there is _business_
between ye, that I could name the time when you are likely to meet him.
All, however, I can decidedly say is, that he intends going to Paris,
but that his stay in France will not exceed five or six weeks in the
whole; and that such letters as I may have occasion to send, are to be
