He retreated to a little arboured seat, and a few minutes later would have given anything to escape from it.  For he was a witness of the parting of Jack and Ella.  He saw the tears streaming from her eyes; he heard Jack tell her that he had never loved another woman and never would.  As they clasped each other’s hands for the final good-bye, Jack seized her passionately and kissed her.  Her head fell back from his shoulder; she had fainted.  He laid her down upon the grass, and looked upon her in an agony of fear and self-reproach.  Then his mood changed.

“Curse the man that broke her heart and mine!” he cried wildly.  “Darling, look up!”

Presently she recovered, and he begged her forgiveness.

“I am better,” said Ella feebly.  “Leave me now.  Good-bye, dear!”

Soon afterwards a little man, with a tear-stained face and enormous bull-dog scarf-pin, arrived at the castle, and asked in a breaking voice to see his lordship.

“Did you know, my lord,” he began, “that Lady Ella was breaking her heart because she was to marry me?”

“Really—­”

“You didn’t know it?  I should be glad to think you didn’t.  Perhaps in spite of all I said, you thought I had bought those papers to have you in my grasp.  I am not a gentleman, my lord, but I hope I am above that.  I was a fool to think I could ever make Lady Ella happy, and I resign my claim upon her hand, my lord, and I must leave your roof for ever.”

“Stop, sir!” cried the earl, in a rage of embarrassment and despair.  He seemed face to face with the wreck of all his hopes.  “Do you know that this is an insult to my daughter and to me?”

“My lord,” returned Kimberley, “I am very sorry, but it was a shame to ask her to marry a man like me.  I won’t help to break her heart—­I can’t—­not if I break my own a million times over.”

The earl beat his foot upon the carpet.  It was true enough.  It had been a shame; and yet the man was a gentleman when all was said and done.

“By heaven, Kimberley,” cried his lordship, in spite of himself, “you are a noble-hearted fellow!”

“Excuse me the trouble I have caused you.  Good-bye, my lord.”  Kimberley bowed and left.

That night Kimberley received a package containing the papers and a note from the earl congratulating him on the magnanimous manner in which he had acted, but declaring that he felt compelled to return the documents.  This added another drop to the bitterness of Kimberley’s cup.  He could well nigh have died for shame; he could well nigh have died for pity of himself.

V.—­Kimberley’s Wedding Gift

“My lord,” said Kimberley, as he met the earl of Windgall outside the London hotel where the earl was staying, “can you give me a very few minutes?”

“Certainly,” said his lordship.  “You are not well?” he added, with solicitude.

He had brought a dispatch-box with him; he put it on the table and slowly unlocked it.  The earl’s heart beat violently as he looked once more upon the precious documents.