was not even present.  The next question was, how to find Thorn.  Nobody knew anything about him—­who he was, what he was, where he came from, where he went to; and thus more years passed on.  Another Thorn came to West Lynne—­an officer in her majesty’s service; and his appearance tallied with the description Richard had given.  I assumed it to be the one; Mr. Carlyle assumed it; but, before anything could be done or even thought of Captain Thorn was gone again.”

Barbara paused to take breath, Madame Vine sat listless enough.  What was this tale to her?

“Again years went on.  The period came of Francis Levison’s sojourn at East Lynne.  Whilst I was there, Captain Thorn arrived once more, on a visit to the Herberts.  We then strove to find out points of his antecedents, Mr. Carlyle and I, and we became nearly convinced that he was the man.  I had to come here often to see Mr. Carlyle, for mamma did not dare to stir in the affair, papa was so violent against Richard.  Thus I often saw Francis Levison; but he was visible to scarcely any other visitor, being at East Lynne en cachette.  He intimated that he was afraid of encountering creditors.  I now begin to doubt whether that was not a false plea; and I remember Mr. Carlyle said, at the time, that he had no creditors in or near West Lynne.”

“Then what was his motive for shunning society—­for never going out?” interrupted Lady Isabel.  Too well she remembered that bygone time; Francis Levison had told that the fear of his creditors kept him up so closely; though he had once said to her they were not in the immediate neighborhood of East Lynne.

“He had a worse fear upon him than that of creditors,” returned Mrs. Carlyle.  “Singular to say, during this visit of Captain Thorn to the Herberts, we received an intimation from my brother that he was once more about to venture for a few hours to West Lynne.  I brought the news to Mr. Carlyle.  I had to see him and consult with him more frequently than ever; mamma was painfully restless and anxious, and Mr. Carlyle as eager as we were for the establishment of Richard’s innocence; for Miss Carlyle and papa are related, consequently the disgrace may be said to reflect on the Carlyle name.”

Back went Lady Isabel’s memory and her bitter repentance.  She remembered how jealously she had attributed these meetings between Mr. Carlyle and Barbara to another source.  Oh!  Why had she suffered her mind to be so falsely and fatally perverted?

“Richard came.  It was hastily arranged that he should go privately to Mr. Carlyle’s office, after the clerks had left for the night, be concealed there, and have an opportunity given him of seeing Captain Thorn.  There was no difficulty, for Mr. Carlyle was transacting some matter of business for the captain, and appointed him to be at the office at eight o’clock.  A memorable night, that, to Mr. Carlyle, for it was the one of his wife’s elopement.”