"What mean you?" inquired Diana: "to which institution do you allude?"
"To the General Post-office," replied the Earl of Warrington.
"The General Post-office!" cried Mrs. Arlington, her countenance expressing the most profound astonishment.
"The General Post-office," repeated the earl. "But this is a matter of so serious a nature that I shall not allow it to rest here. You will lend me these letters for a few hours? I am more intimately acquainted with the Home Secretary than with any other of her Majesty's Ministers; and to him will I now proceed."
The earl consigned the letters to his pocket, and, with an air of deep determination, took a temporary leave of Mrs. Arlington.
Scarcely had the earl left the house, when Mr. Greenwood's valet, Filippo, was introduced.
"I have called, madam," said the Italian, "to inform you that I last night counteracted another of my master's plots, and saved a young female from the persecution of his addresses."
"You have done well, Filippo," exclaimed Mrs. Arlington. "Does your master suspect you?"
"Not in the remotest degree, madam. I contrived matters so well, that he believed the young person alluded to had escaped by her own means, and without any assistance, save that of a pair of sheets which enabled her to descend in safety from the window of the room in which she was confined."
"I am delighted to hear that your mission to England has been so successful, in thwarting the machinations of that bad man," observed Mrs. Arlington. "Have you heard any news from Castelcicala?"