"Yes, for you," he replied. "You are too beautiful and gifted, Miss West, to be contented in your present humble condition. You should marry wealth and position. Both would become you rarely."
"Thank you, my lord," she said, bowing, with a pretty gesture of mock humility.
"That reminds me to tell you that De Vere will be here to-morrow," he said, suddenly.
"What has that to do with our subject?" she inquired, shortly.
"Everything. De Vere is in love with you, and he is rich and well born. You can be Mrs. De Vere any time you wish."
"Did your friend employ you to tell me this?" asked Leonora, pale with passion.
"No; but he would have no objection to my doing so. He will tell you so himself when he comes."
"And you advise me to marry him?" she asked, gazing into his face with her soft, steady glance.
His own eyes fell beneath it.