At present the affair is causing a great
sensation."
A fashionable paper which indulged largely in personalities, also had a
telling article on Lord Arleigh's marriage. No names were mentioned, but
the references were unmistakable. A private marriage, followed by a
separation on the same day, was considered a fair mark for scandal. This
also Lady Peters read, and the duchess listened with white, trembling
lips.
"It must refer to Lord Arleigh," said Lady Peters.
"It cannot," was the rejoinder. "He was far too deeply in love with his
fair-faced bride to leave her."
"I never did quite approve of that marriage," observed Lady Peters.
"The scandal cannot be about him," declared the duchess. "We should have
heard if there had been anything wrong."
The next day a letter was handed to her. She recognized the
handwriting--it was Lord Arleigh's. She laid the note down, not daring
to read it before Lady Peters. What had he to say to her?
When she was alone she opened it.
"You will be pleased to hear, duchess, that your scheme has
entirely succeeded. You have made two innocent people who have
never harmed you as wretched as it is possible for human beings to
be.
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