serves, and you, you shall be known as the child of disgrace, assuming rank and title, to which you have no pretensions."
Never was astonishment equal to the Count's, or perturbation of spirits like Ferdinand's—that this fabricated story was an impudent forgery he had no doubt, and he was well assured could not be maintained; but then she was capable of promulgating the falsehood through the town, his father's memory would be branded by a hundred malicious tongues that delight in a tale of scandal; if in revenge she instituted a suit, he must appear to controvert her assertions, and in the mean time hold only a doubtful title, and a disputed estate.
Whilst he was silently revolving in his mind those perplexities, the Count was considering how to undermine this plot against the interest of his friend.
"I think," said he, mildly, "if this Lady has the proofs she speaks of, it will be much more for your interest and honour to com-
