As this was very evident, the Count, gracefully bowing, departed, followed by all eyes, also by the steps of the person on whom Lord Meersbrook had been looking earnestly for some minutes. Whilst the Count had been speaking to Lady Penrhyn, the bedizened man had made his way to the duchess's box, bought a card-case of her youngest daughter, and on the near approach of her grace, had said in a low voice,—
"No offence, marm, but I believe you are my Lady Anne Granard."
"No," said the duchess, "I am not. Lady Anne's stand is opposite."
"I beg pardon, my lady; but I was told to look out for a fine woman in the centre box, an' I did."
"l am the Duchess of C; the duke, my husband, is in the room, and."
"I beg your grace's pardon most humbly," said the man, retreating, for he had now become sensible that there were two centre stands, similarly ornamented, and, from drawing as close as possible to the opposite one, heard what was said by Lady Penrhyn to the Count, whom he followed so closely, that the keeper of the private passage admitted them as a foreigner and his attendant, who continued to tread in the Count's steps, though not quite at his ease, until a fair hand, putting aside a curtain, admitted the former into Lady Anne's little inclosure.
"I am a stranger, but not willing to believe myself
