When the old gentlewoman had seated herself and taken her cup of tea, Mr.Copleston said to Stephen, with a sort of pomposity: 'I have to announce your succession to the Earldom de Lannoy!' Stephen sat quite still.

She knew the news was true; Mr.Copleston was not one who would jest on a business subject, and too accurate a lawyer to make an error in a matter of fact.

But the fact did not seem to touch her.

It was not that she was indifferent to it; few women could hear such news without a thrill.

Mr.Copleston seemed at a loss.