“Very well.”

“And the gold?”

“Shall be forthcoming as soon as I can get it.  The count has placed all his gold in safe keeping, and all I can seize are the rents as they become due.”

“Very well; but let me have them.  In the meantime you must provide for me, as I have come here with the full intention of staying here, or in some neighbouring town.”

“Indeed!”

“Yes; and my servant must be discharged, as I want none here.”

The countess called to an attendant and gave the necessary orders, and afterwards remained some time with the stranger, who had thus so unceremoniously thrust himself upon her, and insisted upon staying under such strange and awful circumstances.

* * * * *

The Count of Morven came a few weeks after, and remained some days with the countess.  They were ceremonious and polite until they had a moment to retire from before people, when the countess changed her cold disdain to a cordial and familiar address.

“And now, my dear Morven,” she exclaimed, as soon as they were unobserved—­“and now, my dear Morven, that we are not seen, tell me, what have you been doing with yourself?”

“Why, I have been in some trouble.  I never had gold that would stay by me.  You know my hand was always open.”

“The old complaint again.”

“No; but having come to the end of my store, I began to grow serious.”

“Ah, Morven!’ said the countess, reproachfully.

“Well, never mind; when my purse is low my spirits sink, as the mercury does with the cold.  You used to say my spirits were mercurial—­I think they were.”

“Well, what did you do?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Was that what you were about to tell me?” inquired the countess.

“Oh, dear, no.  You recollect the Italian quack of whom I bought the drug you gave to the count, and which put an end to his days—­he wanted more money.  Well, as I had no more to spare, I could spare no more to him, and he turned vicious, and threatened.  I threatened, too, and he knew I was fully able and willing to perform any promise I might make to him on that score.  I endeavoured to catch him, as he had already began to set people off on the suspicious and marvellous concerning me, and if I could have come across him, I would have laid him very low indeed.”

“And you could not find him?”

“No, I could not.”

[Illustration]

“Well, then, I will tell you where he is at this present moment.”

“You?”

“Yes, I.”

“I can scarcely credit my senses at what you say,” said Count Morven.  “My worthy doctor, you are little better than a candidate for divine honours.  But where is he?”

“Will you promise to be guided by me?” said the countess.

“If you make it a condition upon which you grant the information, I must.”