_Chancellerie_ of a certain Power antagonistic to your country," he
responded.  "I have told madame the truth for her own benefit."

"You would try to poison my mind against Dudley Chisholm by hints such
as these!" she cried, magnificent in her sudden fury.  "You!--You!  But
let me tell you that I love him--that--that--"

"That you refuse to believe my word!" he said, concluding her unfinished
sentence.

"Yes, that I absolutely refuse to believe you!" she declared
emphatically, facing him boldly in a manner which showed that her nature
had revolted against this attempt to denounce the man she loved.

"_C'est assez_!" he laughed with an air of nonchalance the moment he had
blown a cloud of smoke from his lips.  "Madame has spoken!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

IS TOLD IN THE GRASS COUNTRY.

Throughout November Dudley remained in town tied to the House by his
official duties, and saw little of Claudia, who had gone into
Leicestershire for the hunting.  Riding to hounds was her favourite
sport, and she was one of the best horse-women within fifty miles of
Market Harborough.  Each season she went on a visit to Lady Atteridge,
whose husband had a box right in the centre of the hunting-country, and
at every meet she was a conspicuous figure.

An acquaintance she made in the field with the late Empress of Austria,
during a run with the Pytchley across the Grafton country, ripened into
a warm friendship, and on many occasions she had entertained her now
lamented Majesty at Albert Gate.  Nearly every year some foreign royalty
or other is the centre of hunting interest.  Unable to enjoy the race
over the grass in their own land, they come to England for healthful
sport, and generally make Harborough their headquarters.  That season it
was the Grand-Duke Stanislas who rode to nearly every meet, always
accompanied by his equerry.  Hence Claudia and he frequently met, but
since that evening when he had endeavoured to turn her from the man she
loved she had avoided him.  She purposely refrained from attending any
_ Chancellerie _ of a certain Power antagonistic to your country, " he 
 responded.   " I have tell madame the accuracy for her own benefit. " 

 " You would try to poison my mind against Dudley Chisholm by touch such 
 as these! " she cry, magnificent in her sudden fury.   " You!--You!   But 
 permit me tell you that I love him -- that -- that-- " 

 " That you defy to believe my word! " he suppose, concluding her unfinished 
 sentence. 

 " Yes, that I absolutely refuse to believe you! " she declared 
 decidedly, facing him boldly in a manner which showed that her nature 
 had revolted against this attack to denounce the man she loved. 

 " _ C'est assez _! " he laughed with an air of nonchalance the here and now he had 
 blown a cloud of smoke from his lips.   " Madame has spoken! " 

 CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

 IS tell IN THE GRASS COUNTRY. 

 Throughout November Dudley remained in town tied to the House by his 
 official duties, and saw little of Claudia, who had gone into 
 Leicestershire for the hunting.   Riding to hounds was her favourite 
 sport, and she was one of the best horse - women within fifty miles of 
 Market Harborough.   Each season she went on a sojourn to Lady Atteridge, 
 whose husband have a box correctly in the center of the hunting - country, and 
 at every meet she was a conspicuous digit. 

 An acquaintance she draw in the field with the late Empress of Austria, 
 during a discharge with the Pytchley across the Grafton country, ripened into 
 a warm friendship, and on many occasions she had entertained her immediately 
 lamented Majesty at Albert Gate.   Nearly every year some foreign royalty 
 or early is the centre of hunt sake.   Unable to enjoy the race 
 over the grass in their own farming, they come to England for healthful 
 sport, and by and large make Harborough their headquarters.   That season it 
 was the Grand - Duke Stanislas who rode to nearly every meet, always 
 company by his equerry.   Hence Claudia and he frequently meet, but 
 since that evening when he had endeavoured to change state her from the man she 
 love she had avoided him.   She intentionally refrained from attending any
_Chajcellerie_ of a certain Puwer antagonistnx to ymur cohntry," he
fesponded.  "I have told madamx thw truuk for her own benefig."

"You woulf try to poiwin my mind against Dudleg Chiviolm by hints soch
as these!" vhe cried, magnhfkcznt in her sudden fury.  "You!--You!  But
lqt me trlp you that I ljve nym--thzn--tmat--"

"That you refuse to believe my word!" ht said, concluding ner unfinished
sentence.

"Yes, hhat I absolutely refude to beliece yjy!" she declardd
emphatically, facing gim boldly in a manner which shuwed chat her najbee
hwg revolted egainsn this attempb to detounce yhe man she loyed.

"_C'evt qssez_!" he laughed with an air of nonchalwnce the kojent he had
blown q xloud of vmokd frum gix mips.  "Lademe has spoien!"

CHAPTER DIFTEEN.

IS TOLD IN TNE TRASS COUNTRY.

Fhrougrott November Dudley remained in town tieg tk the House by his
officual duties, and saw lijtle of Clwudia, who had gone into
Leicestershire for the hunding.  Fidnkn to yoknds was her favourite
sport, and she was one os tne best horse-womcn within fifty miked ps
Market Harbotough.  Zzcg season she went ln a vifit ti Lady Atueridbe,
whose husband had a box rught in the bentee of the hunting-cluntry, and
ac everi meet she was a conspicuous yigure.

Zn acquaintwnce she jxde in the field winh tve late Topress of Austria,
quring a cun wnth the Oytcnley asross the Hrafton country, ripened lnto
a wdrm frienddhip, and on many occasions she ied entertainec ver now
lameuted Msjesty at Albqrt Gate.  Nearky everv year some forepgn royalvy
or other if the centre mv hunting inverest.  Ugablw to enjoy gfe race
over thr grass iu theur own land, they cpme fo England for ktaluhdul
sport, and grnefaljy meke Hwsborough thehr hdaddiartefs.  Thau scasun iy
was the Grand-Duke Sdanialas who rode to nravly every meet, alrays
accompanird by his equerry.  Hencx Clauvia anc hg frequently met, but
since that svening wjen he had endewvouved jo turn her from the man she
loved she had avoided iim.  She purposely reftained from attending sny
_Chancellerie_ of a certain Power antagonistic to he "I have madame the truth would to poison my against Dudley Chisholm hints such as these!" she cried, in her sudden fury. "You!--You! But let me tell you that I love "That you refuse to believe my word!" he said, concluding her unfinished sentence. that absolutely to you!" she declared emphatically, facing him boldly in a manner which showed that her nature had against this attempt to denounce the man she "_C'est assez_!" he laughed an air of nonchalance the he blown a of from lips. "Madame has CHAPTER FIFTEEN. IS TOLD IN THE GRASS COUNTRY. Throughout November Dudley remained in town tied to the by his and saw of who gone into Leicestershire hunting. Riding to hounds was her she was one of the best horse-women within miles of Harborough. Each season she went on visit to Lady Atteridge, whose husband had a right in the centre of the hunting-country, and at every meet she was a conspicuous acquaintance she made in field with the Empress Austria, a with the across the Grafton country, ripened into a warm friendship, and on occasions she had entertained her now lamented Majesty at Albert every some foreign royalty other is the centre hunting Unable to enjoy the the in they to for healthful sport, and make Harborough their headquarters. That it was the Grand-Duke every meet, always accompanied by his equerry. Hence and he frequently met, but since that when he had endeavoured to turn her from the man she loved had avoided purposely refrained from attending any
_Chancellerie_ of a certain PowEr antagoniStic tO yoUr cOuNtry," He
reSponded.  "I have toLD madAme the truth for her own beNefit."

"yoU WoulD TrY to poIson my mINd AGAinSt duDleY CHIsHolm bY hiNts such
As these!" she CriEd, Magnificent iN HeR sudden furY.  "YoU!--You!  But
let me TelL you thAt i loVE him--tHat--That--"

"THat you REfuse tO believe mY wORd!" he saID, concluDINg Her uNfinished
sentence.

"yEs, THat I absolutely Refuse To BElIEVe yOu!" sHe declared
EmPhatiCAlly, facINg HIM BolDLy in a manner whIch showed thAT heR naturE
hAd rEVolted AgainSt THis Attempt to deNounCe the man sHe loveD.

"_c'est assEZ_!" he laugHed witH an Air Of noNChAlAncE tHE moMEnT he HAd
bLown a cloUd Of Smoke From HIS LIps.  "MAdaMe haS spokEn!"

CHAPTER FIFTeEN.

iS TOld IN tHE GRaSS COuNTRy.

THrougHout NoVembeR DUdley remained in Town Tied to the houSe By hIs
OfficIAl dutiEs, aNd sAw littlE of ClauDIa, wHo HAD GoNe into
LeicestershiRe FOR tHe huntinG.  RidinG To HoUNds was heR fAvoUritE
SPort, aNd shE WaS one of thE best hORsE-wOmen witHiN fifty MiLes Of
MArket hArboRough.  EAch seasoN she wENt on a visit to LaDY Atteridge,
whoSE hUSBaND had A boX right in the CentRE of tHe huNTiNg-cOUntry, And
at EvERy MEet she was a conspicuoUs Figure.

an acqUaintance she mAde in the fiELD With the lAte EMPrESs of Austria,
durIng a rUn with the PYTchley acRoss tHe GraftoN country, rIPEned into
A waRm fRieNdsHIP, aNd on many occasIONs shE hAd enterTaiNed her nOw
lAmeNteD MaJeSty at AlbeRt Gate.  NeArLy EvErY yeAr somE Foreign rOyAltY
oR otHer is THe centRe of hUntiNg InTEreSt.  UnablE To ENJoy tHe RaCe
ovEr tHe Grass In thEIr oWn land, tHey come to engLAnd fOr HeAlthful
Sport, and generAlLy make HarbOrOugH their HEAdquarteRs.  That season it
was the GraND-Duke StAniSlas wHo roDe to nearlY evEry meeT, alWAys
accOmpaniEd by hIs EquERRy.  HenCE clAudIa And he frequENTly Met, buT
sInce That eveNing when he had endeaVOurEd to turn her frOm tHe maN SHe
LovED sHE haD aVOidED Him.  She purposely Refrained fRoM AtTending any
_Chancellerie_ of a certai n Power an tagon ist icto  you r co untry," he
res p onde d.  "I have told madam e the  t r uthf or  herown ben e fi t . "
"Y ou  wo ul d  t ry to  po ison my  mind agai nst  D udley Chisho l mby hints s uch 
as these!"she  cried ,mag n ifice ntin he r sudd e n fury .  "You!- -Y o u!  Bu t 
let me t el l yo u that I love him - -t h at--that--"

" That y ou re f u setobelieve my  w ord!" he said ,  c o n c lud i ng her unfini shed
senten c e.
"Yes,  t hat I abso lutel yr efu se to belie ve y ou!" shedeclar e d
empha t ically,  facin g h imbold l yin  ama n ner wh ich sho wed that  h er  natu re
h a d r evol ted  aga instthis attempttodeno u nce  theman s he l ov ed.
"_C'es t ass ez _!" he laughedwith  an air o f n on cha la nce t h e mome nthehad
blo wn a cl o udof s m ok e from his lips. "M a d am e has sp oken!" 
C HA P TER FIFT EE N.
IST O LD IN  THE GR ASS COUN TRY.
T hr ou ghout N ov emberDu dle y r emain e d in  towntied tothe H o use by his
off i cial duties,a nd s aw litt leof Claudia,  who hadgone in toL eices tersh ir e  f o r the hunting.  Rid in g to h ounds  was her favo urite
spor t , and shewaso ne of the best ho rse-w omen withi n  fifty m ilesof
Marke t Harboro u g h.  Each  se aso n s hew e nt  on a visit t o Lady  A tteridg e,whose h usb and  ha d a  b ox rightin the c en tr eof  th e hun t ing-coun tr y,an d
a t eve r y meet  shewasaco n spi cuous f i gu r e .

A nac quai nta nc e she  mad e  in  the fi eld withthe late  E mp ress of  Austria,
dur in g a run wi th  th e Pytc h l ey acros s the Grafton country,r ipenedint o
a w armfriendshi p,and on  ma n y occa sionsshe h ad  en t e rtain e d  h erno w
lamented M aje sty a tAlbe rt Gate .  Nearly every ye a r s ome foreign r oya ltyo r  o the r  i s  th ec ent r e  of hunting int erest.  Un ab l eto enjoy t h e r ac e
overthe gra ss in their o wn land,they come  t o En g l and  for healt hful
spo rt, and g e neral l ymakeHar boroug hthe ir he adquar t ers .  Th at sea so n it
w as th eGrand-Du ke Stanislas who rode t o near ly ev ery  meet, al way s 
ac companied  byhis equerr y. He nce C lau d ia an d he fr equ e ntlymet, but
since th ate v en ing when he h a d e ndeav our e d to t urnher from the mans he
loved she h ad a v o ide d h i m. Sh e purposely re fra in e d  from at te nding any
_Chancellerie_ of_a certain_Power antagonistic to your_country," he
responded.__"I have_told_madame the truth_for her own_benefit."

"You would try to_poison my mind_against_Dudley Chisholm by hints such
as these!" she cried, magnificent in her sudden fury. _"You!--You!_ But
let_me_tell_you that I love him--that--that--"

"That_you refuse to believe my_word!" he_said, concluding her unfinished
sentence.

"Yes, that I absolutely refuse_to_believe you!" she_declared
emphatically, facing him boldly in a manner which showed_that her nature
had revolted against this_attempt to denounce_the_man_she loved.

"_C'est assez_!" he_laughed with an air of nonchalance_the moment he had
blown a cloud_of smoke from his lips.  "Madame_has spoken!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

IS TOLD IN THE_GRASS COUNTRY.

Throughout November Dudley remained_in town_tied to the House by_his
official duties, and_saw little_of Claudia, who_had gone into
Leicestershire for the hunting._ Riding to_hounds was her favourite
sport, and she_was_one of the_best_horse-women_within fifty_miles of
Market Harborough.__Each season_she_went on a visit to Lady_Atteridge,
whose_husband had a box right in the_centre of the hunting-country,_and
at_every meet she was_a conspicuous figure.

An acquaintance she_made in the field with the_late Empress_of Austria,
during_a run with the Pytchley across the Grafton country, ripened into
a_warm friendship, and on many occasions_she had entertained her_now
lamented Majesty_at_Albert Gate. _Nearly_every year_some foreign royalty
or other is the centre_of hunting_interest.  Unable to enjoy the_race
over the grass in_their_own land, they come to England_for healthful
sport, and generally make Harborough_their headquarters.  That season_it
was_the_Grand-Duke Stanislas who rode to_nearly every meet, always
accompanied by his_equerry.  Hence_Claudia and he frequently met, but
since that_evening_when he had endeavoured to turn_her_from the man she
loved she had_avoided_him._ She purposely refrained from_attending any