Dalby had well digested his plans, to obtain the concurrence in them which he eventually hoped for from the other, it was necessary that he should excite a feeling of pique against Miles; thus he went to his worthy work, first having bound his listener to solemn secresy, on the plea of personal interest in himself, making him guilty of an unprofessional want of silence and caution; this obtained, he began—"You know, perhaps, that Tremenhere is illegitimate?"
"Not I—how the deuce should I?"
"Well, then, he is. I should be unnecessarily exposing many painful family secrets, to tell you what family he lays claim to kindred with; I merely come to facts, which are true. He has been residing abroad some years—by the way," he seemed as if suddenly enlightened by a thought, though every word had been pre-conceived, "did he not meet Lady Dora Vaughan in Florence?"
"Yes; when I too met him," answered the other, not a little amazed at this turn.
"That, then, accounts for much."
"What can you mean, Dalby—pray, be quick?" actually Lord Randolph's heart gave a little quiet jump.
"Well then, in a few words, Lady Dora was recently in Yorkshire, and there too Tremenhere was."
"This has never been alluded to in my presence," said the listener, uncomfortably.
"Nor to one another, perhaps," emphasized Dalby. "I think there is a coolness between them now."
"By Jove! I said as much to Lady Dora, and she denied it rather angrily and haughtily."