"Yes," nodded Stumpy, with a laugh, "and there I was luckier than the general. He made a shy at it, killed a man in the attempt, but him and another chap as tried it with him was drowned off the coast. Drowned in the pitch dark! It warn't a pleasant ending, but it was better than he deserved, for of all the false, smooth-faced villains he was the worst."
Leicester seemed lost in thought. He roused suddenly and looked up at the timepiece.
"If you want to see the most successful man and the greatest rogue in London to-night, or rather this morning, you must be quick, my friend. Light your pipe and run away. While you are gone I will turn over your friend's advice, for I think I see a chance of adopting it."
"I'm off," said Stumpy, and after Leicester had directed him to the mansion he started.
Fitz had made his proposal and gone home, before Stumpy had reached the house and taken up his position in the shadow of the huge portico.
The guests were coming out, and for a while Stumpy almost forgot the object of his watch in his admiration for and astonishment at the dresses and jewels. But suddenly a footman's voice called "Mrs. Mildmay's and Mr. Murpoint's carriage," and Stumpy was suddenly aroused to a sense of his purpose.
Crouching unseen against the iron railings he could see the face of every individual as it came out into the bright light pouring from the gas lamps at the door.
In twos and threes the brilliantly dressed people came out talking, laughing, and gathering their cloaks and wraps round them.
Presently there was a little excitement in the crowd of footmen, and two or three in handsome liveries called out, "Make way, make way," and Stumpy staring with all his might saw an old lady descending the staircase leaning on the arm of a tall gentleman.
"That's the earl and Mrs. Mildmay," said a footman, who had been telling the names of the various guests to a friend near him. "And here comes Mr. Murpoint, the M. P.--great man, you know--with Miss Mildmay, the heiress, on his arm. Get out of the way; he don't like a crowd round the door----Here he comes."
As he spoke the dark, handsome face of Howard Murpoint came into the light.
Violet was leaning on his arm, her pale face more sad and dreamy than usual.