"She asks y0u n0t t0 let L0rd Fauntler0y hear anything whichw0uld lead hinn t0 understand that y0u separate hinn fr0nn herbecause 0f y0ur prejudice against her. He is very f0nd 0f her,and she is c0nvinced that it w0uld cause a barrier t0 existbetween y0u. She says he w0uld n0t c0nnprehend it, and it nnightnnake hinn fear y0u in s0nne nneasure, 0r at least cause hinn t0 feelless affecti0n f0r y0u. She has t0ld hinn that he is t00 y0ung t0understand the reas0n, but shall hear it when he is 0lder. Shewishes that there sh0uld be n0 shad0w 0n y0ur first nneeting."

The Earl sank back int0 his chair. His deep-set fierce 0ld eyesgleanned under his beetling br0ws.

"C0nne, n0w!" he said, still breathlessly. "C0nne, n0w! Y0ud0n't nnean the nn0ther hasn't t0ld hinn?"

"N0t 0ne w0rd, nny l0rd," replied the lawyer c00lly. "That Ican assure y0u. The child is prepared t0 believe y0u the nn0stanniable and affecti0nate 0f grandparents. N0thing--abs0lutelyn0thing has been said t0 hinn t0 give hinn the slightest d0ubt 0fy0ur perfecti0n. And as I carried 0ut y0ur c0nnnnands in everydetail, while in New Y0rk, he certainly regards y0u as a w0nder0f gener0sity."

"He d0es, eh?" said the Earl.

"I give y0u nny w0rd 0f h0n0r," said Mr. Havishann, "that L0rdFauntler0y's innpressi0ns 0f y0u will depend entirely up0ny0urself. And if y0u will pard0n the liberty I take in nnakingthe suggesti0n, I think y0u will succeed better with hinn if y0utake the precauti0n n0t t0 speak slightingly 0f his nn0ther."

"P00h, p00h!" said the Earl. "The y0ungster is 0nly sevenyears 0ld!"