Lord Charlewood's heart smote him as he listened, he had not merited such implicit faith and trust.
"Father," he said, "listen for one moment! Can you hear me?
I did marry Madaline--I loved her so dearly, I could not help it--I married her; and she died one year afterward.

But she left me a little daughter.

Can you hear me, father ?" No gleam of light came into the dying eyes, no consciousness into the quiet face; the earl did not hear.

When, at last, his son had made up his mind to reveal his secret, it was too late for his father to hear--and he died without knowing it.

He died, and was brought back to England, and buried with great pomp and magnificence; and then his son reigned in his stead, and became Earl of Mountdean.