the latter a wily Italian, immediately
applied to the corrupt courts of the island,
whose sole principle of equity was that
opulent strangers, and especially opulent
English strangers, were to contribiite
handsomely on all occasions to their needy
dependents.

The court decreed that Milor Anglais was
to pay.

"I told you, my dear," said Mr. Leader,
petulantly, "I knew this would be the
result."

"Well, my dear, it was very foolish of you
to go to law. But they are dreadful people."

"But what are we to do? I shall be
ruined with all these expenses."

Mrs. Leader looked round with that hopeless
expression she sometimes had. "What
are we to do, dear? The best thing for you
is to pay it, and save further expense."

Mr. Leader, fretted and harassed, had
to pay the money, and, all bills being at
last settled, they set sail in the P. and 0.
packet, to use the appropriate slang.

Mr. and Mrs. Leader had, of course, the
best cabin and accommodation. For this
compliment they had again to pay with
an almost frightful usury. Yet, by some
strange dispensation, the general and his
daughter obtained accommodation precisely
the same without any extra expenditure
whatever! The voyage was charming;
the captain was some distant connexion of
Lord Merriman, and, of course, was duly
compensated for his civilities by a costly
present. Yet again, the general and his
daughter were treated with rather more
civility, and gratuitously; but this is only
the old story, "worth makes the man,
crude wealth the fellow ;" it wins no more
respect in that shape than sheer poverty.

That voyage was marked, in reference to
Mrs. Leader, by a sustained ko-too. There
was an honourable lady on board to whom
Mrs. Leader paid adoration, even in the
extremity of sickness. Her disorganised
mechanism rendered her the special victim
of this cruel malady; yet such was her
gallant spirit, that, with this weight of agony
on her, she was seen to walk across the
deck, and go through various fashionable
offices to conciliate the person of honour.
However, the voyage was not very stormy;
and, at last, the whole party was happily
established at the great private family
hotel, Starridge's.

CHAPTER II. COUNCIL AND PREPARATION

To write a letter at Starridge's was set
down at a shilling, and it was a compliment
of an extravagant sort to be allowed
the privilege of an apartment there. Mrs.
Leader had secured this favour with some
difficulty from the present proprietor.
Here, again, General Fountain was treated
to moderate charges, and singular civility,
simply because he did not care how he was
welcomed; but the wealthy commoners,
"some Leaders, or other," said the
representatives of Starridge, got but poor value
for their outlay.

The very night that Mrs. Leader was
installed at Starridge's, she began to plan
out that country campaign to which she
had been looking forward. The house at
Leadersfort was to be filled. The coachman,
man, with a dozen fine horses bought by
the coachman himself, was to go down at
once. The place was to be fitted up. The
general, "the dear general," was to come
down, with other distinguished persons.
Vast and elaborate preparations were set
on foot, chiefly through the agency of an
entrepreneur and skilful people, who were
all sent down, and given carte blanche. In
vain Mr. Leader protested. It was absurd,
and of no use, and would certainly end
in his ruin. "Childish," said Mrs. Leader;
"we must do something for her." In the
thick of these preparations a letter from
Mr. Randall Morrison arrived. It ran:
"I hope you got my letter and telegram;
you should not lose any time in coming
here, for the crisis is urgent." Crisis
urgent! What did Randall mean? Another
telegram to bid him come to town and come
to Starridge's at once, which he did. And
then they learned the precipice upon which
they were standing.

"That wily Doctor." said Mr. Morrison,
"has got the foolish fellow under his thumb.
The whole town is talking of it, you must
act at once and speedily. He is under some
miserable infatuation; and I do really fear
this low Doctor will get hold of him, unless
something be done at once."

Mrs. Leader nearly fainted at this news,
It was a true and genuine shock. That
low, grovelling, scheming Doctor, to dare
to meddle with her family—to dare to
interfere, even unconsciously, with her
plans! He was mere dirt and mud, and
she would tramp and "puddle" him into
perfect slush. Still, she could hardly credit
such effrontery—there must be exaggeration
of some kind. A contemptible apothecary
creature of that description to
venture to plant himself in her path! It was
scarcely likely.

The Leaders now sat in their drawing-room