that he forbore his visits to the rooms.  Mr. Nash explained (and was confirmed, madam, by indubitable information) that this Beaucaire was a man of unspeakable, vile, low birth, being, in fact, no other than a lackey of the French king’s ambassador, Victor by name, de Mirepoix’s barber.  Although his condition was known, the hideous impudence of the fellow did not desert him, and he remained in Bath, where none would speak to him.”

“Is your farrago nigh done, sir?”

“A few moments, madam.  One evening, three weeks gone, I observed a very elegant equipage draw up to my door, and the Duke of Chateaurien was announced.  The young man’s manners were worthy—­according to the French acceptance—­and ’twere idle to deny him the most monstrous assurance.  He declared himself a noble traveling for pleasure.  He had taken lodgings in Bath for a season, he said, and called at once to pay his respects to me.  His tone was so candid—­in truth, I am the simplest of men, very easily gulled—­and his stroke so bold, that I did not for one moment suspect him; and, to my poignant regret—­though in the humblest spirit I have shown myself eager to atone—­that very evening I had the shame of presenting him to yourself.”

“The shame, sir!”

“Have patience, pray, madam.  Ay, the shame!  You know what figure he hath cut in Bath since that evening.  All ran merrily with him until several days ago Captain Badger denounced him as an impostor, vowing that Chateaurien was nothing.”

“Pardon,” interrupted M. Beaucaire. “‘Castle Nowhere’ would have been so much better.  Why did you not make him say it that way, monsieur?”

Lady Mary started; she was looking at the Duke, and her face was white.  He continued:  “Poor Captain Badger was stabbed that same day.—­”

“Most befitting poor Captain Badger,” muttered Molyneux.

“——­And his adversary had the marvelous insolence to declare that he fought in my quarrel!  This afternoon the wounded man sent for me, and imparted a very horrifying intelligence.  He had discovered a lackey whom he had seen waiting upon Beaucaire in attendance at the door of this Chateaurien’s lodging.  Beaucaire had disappeared the day before Chateaurien’s arrival.  Captain Badger looked closely at Chateaurien at their next meeting, and identified him with the missing Beaucaire beyond the faintest doubt.  Overcome with indignation, he immediately proclaimed the impostor.  Out of regard for me, he did not charge him with being Beaucaire; the poor soul was unwilling to put upon me the humiliation of having introduced a barber; but the secret weighed upon him till he sent for me and put everything in my hands.  I accepted the odium; thinking only of atonement.  I went to Sir John Wimpledon’s.  I took poor Sir Hugh, there, and these other gentlemen aside, and told them my news.  We narrowly observed this man, and were shocked at our simplicity in not having discovered him before.  These are men of