fond Fanny!  A short time ago they had been all in all to each other; and now so completely estranged as they were!  However, Dot was right; up to this time Fanny might be quite true to him; indeed, there was not ground even for doubting her, for it was evident that no reliance was to be placed in Lord Cashel’s asseverations.  But still he could not expect that she should continue to consider herself engaged, if she remained totally neglected by her lover.  He must do something, and that at once; but there was very great difficulty in deciding what that something was to be.  It was easy enough for Dot to say, first write, and then go.  If he were to write, what security was there that his letter would be allowed to reach Fanny? and, if he went, how much less chance was there that he would be allowed to see her.  And then, again to be turned out of the house! again informed, by that pompous scheming earl, that his visits there were not desired.  Or, worse still, not to be admitted; to be driven from the door by a footman who would well know for what he came!  No; come what come might, he would never again go to Grey Abbey; at least not unless he was specially and courteously invited thither by the owner; and then it should only be to marry his ward, and take her from the odious place, never to return again.

“The impudent impostor!” continued Frank to himself; “to pretend to suspect me, when he was himself hatching his dirty, mercenary, heartless schemes!”

But still the same question recurred,—­what was to be done?  Venting his wrath on Lord Cashel would not get him out of the difficulty:  going was out of the question; writing was of little use.  Could he not send somebody else?  Some one who could not be refused admittance to Fanny, and who might at any rate learn what her wishes and feelings were?  He did not like making love by deputy; but still, in his present dilemma, he could think of nothing better.  But whom was he to send?  Bingham Blake was a man of character, and would not make a fool of himself; but he was too young; he would not be able to make his way to Fanny.  No—­a young unmarried man would not do.—­Mat Tierney?—­he was afraid of no one, and always cool and collected; but then, Mat was in London; besides, he was a sort of friend of Kilcullen’s.  General Bourke?  No one could refuse an entree to his venerable grey hairs, and polished manner; besides, his standing in the world was so good, so unexceptionable; but then the chances were he would not go on such an errand; he was too old to be asked to take such a troublesome service; and besides, if asked, it was very probable he would say that he considered Lord Cashel entitled to his ward’s obedience.  The rector—­the Rev. Joseph Armstrong?  He must be the man:  there was, at any rate, respectability in his profession; and he had sufficient worldly tact not easily to be thrust aside from his object:  the difficulty would be, whether he had a coat sufficiently decent to appear in at Grey Abbey.