Once more husband and wife exchanged a look.
"I am Mrs. Henry Durie," said she; "but before my marriage my name was Alison Graeme."
Then my lord spoke up. "I am an old man, Colonel Burke," said he, "and a frail one. It will be mercy on your part to be expeditious. Do you bring me news of - " he hesitated, and then the words broke from him with a singular change of voice - "my son?"
"My dear lord, I will be round with you like a soldier," said the Colonel. "I do."
My lord held out a wavering hand; he seemed to wave a signal, but whether it was to give him time or to speak on, was more than we could guess. At length he got out the one word, "Good?"
"Why, the very best in the creation!" cries the Colonel. "For my good friend and admired comrade is at this hour in the fine city of Paris,
