“Lord Sunbury was never married,” she exclaimed—­“was he?”

“I know not,” replied Wilton—­“all I ask is, am I his son?  I ask it, because he has shown me generous kindness, care, and consideration; and at times I have seen him gazing in my face, when he thought I did not remark it, as if there were some deeper feelings in his bosom than mere friendship.  Yet I cannot say that he has ever taught me to look upon myself as his son.”

“Your imagination is only leading you into a labyrinth, Wilton,” replied the personage calling himself Green, “from which you will find it difficult to extricate yourself.  Be contented with what you know, and ask no more.”

“I much wish, and I do entreat,” replied Wilton, “that you would give me an answer to the question I have asked.  There might be circumstances—­indeed, I may say, that circumstances are very likely to occur, in which it would be absolutely necessary for me to know what claim I have upon the Earl of Sunbury.  I have never yet asked him for anything of importance; but I foresee that the time may soon come when I may have to demand of him what I would not venture to demand, did I consider myself but the claimless child of his bounty.”

The lady looked at Green, and Green at her, and they paused for several minutes.  At length she answered, “I will give you a claim upon Lord Sunbury;” and she took from her finger a large ring, such as were commonly worn in those days, presenting on one side a shield of black enamel surrounded with brilliants, and in the centre a cipher, formed also of small diamonds.  “Keep this,” said the lady, “till all is explained to you, Wilton, and then return it to me.  Should the Earl’s assistance be required in anything of vital importance, show him that ring, if he be in England, or if he be abroad, tell him that you possess it, and beseech him by all the thoughts which that may call up in his mind, to aid you to the utmost of his power.—­I think he will not fail you.”

Wilton was about to answer; and though it was now growing dusk, he might have lingered on much longer, striving to gain more information, but at that moment there came a sound of many feet at the passage, and the voice of some one speaking apparently to the landlord, and demanding,—­“Who the devil’s horses are those walking up and down there?”

Almost at the same time, a hand was laid upon the latch of the door, and it would have been thrown open, had not Green previously taken the precaution of locking it.  He now partially opened it, however, and spoke a few words to those without.

“Go into the next room,” he said; “go into the next room—­I will be with you directly.”  He then closed the door again, and turning to Wilton, took him by the arm, saying, “Now mount your horse, and be gone instantly:  your time for staying here is over; make the best of your way home, without delay; and only remember, that whenever we meet in future, you do not appear to know me, unless I speak to you.  Should you want advice, direction, and assistance—­and remember, that though poor and powerless as I seem, I may know more, and be able to do far more, than you imagine—­ask for me here; or the first time you see me, lay your finger upon that ring which she has given you, and I will find means to learn your wishes, and to promote them instantly—­Now you must go at once.”