When Lady Monteagle discovered, which she did a very few hours after the mortifying event, where Lord Cadurcis had dined the day on which he had promised to be her guest, she was very indignant, but her vanity was more offended than her self-complacency. She was annoyed that Cadurcis should have compromised his exalted reputation by so publicly dangling in the train of the new beauty: still more that he should have signified in so marked a manner the impression which the fair stranger had made upon him, by instantly accepting an invitation to a house so totally unconnected with his circle, and where, had it not been to meet this Miss Herbert, it would of course never have entered his head to be a visitor. But, on the whole, Lady Monteagle was rather irritated than jealous; and far from suspecting that there was the slightest chance of her losing her influence, such as it might be, over Lord Cadurcis, all that she felt was, that less lustre must redound to her from its possession and exercise, if it were obvious to the world that his attentions could be so easily attracted and commanded.

When Lord Cadurcis, therefore, having dispatched his poem to Venetia, paid his usual visit on the next day to Monteagle House, he was received rather with sneers than reproaches, as Lady Monteagle, with no superficial knowledge of society or his lordship’s character, was clearly of opinion that this new fancy of her admirer was to be treated rather with ridicule than indignation; and, in short, as she had discovered that Cadurcis was far from being insensible to mockery, that it was clearly a fit occasion, to use a phrase then very much in vogue, for quizzing.

‘How d’ye do?’ said her ladyship, with an arch smile, ‘I really could not expect to see you!’

Cadurcis looked a little confused; he detested scenes, and now he dreaded one.

‘You seem quite distrait,’ continued Lady Monteagle, after a moment’s pause, which his lordship ought to have broken. ‘But no wonder, if the world be right.’

‘The world cannot be wrong,’ said Cadurcis sarcastically.

‘Had you a pleasant party yesterday?’

‘Very.’

‘Lady —— must have been quite charmed to have you at last,’ said Lady Monteagle. ‘I suppose she exhibited you to all her friends, as if you were one of the savages that went to Court the other day.’

‘She was courteous.’

‘Oh! I can fancy her flutter! For my part, if there be one character in the world more odious than another, I think it is a fussy woman. Lady — — with Lord Cadurcis dining with her, and the new beauty for a niece, must have been in a most delectable state of bustle.’

‘I thought she was rather quiet,’ said her companion with provoking indifference. ‘She seemed to me an agreeable person.’

‘I suppose you mean Miss Herbert?’ said Lady Monteagle.

‘Oh! these are moderate expressions to use in reference to a person like Miss Herbert.’

‘You know what they said of you two at Ranelagh?’ said her ladyship.

‘No,’ said Lord Cadurcis, somewhat changing colour, and speaking through his teeth; ‘something devilish pleasant, I dare say.’

‘They call you Sedition and Treason,’ said Lady Monteagle.

‘Then we are well suited,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘She certainly is a beautiful creature,’ said her ladyship.

‘I think so,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘Rather too tall, I think.’

‘Do you?’

‘Beautiful complexion certainly; wants delicacy, I think.’

‘Do you?’

‘Fine eyes! Grey, I believe. Cannot say I admire grey eyes. Certain sign of bad temper, I believe, grey eyes?’

‘Are they?’

‘I did not observe her hand. I dare say a little coarse. Fair people who are tall generally fail in the hand and arm. What sort of a hand and arm has she?’

‘I did not observe anything coarse about Miss Herbert.’

‘Ah! you admire her. And you have cause. No one can deny she is a fine girl, and every one must regret, that with her decidedly provincial air and want of style altogether, which might naturally be expected, considering the rustic way I understand she has been brought up (an old house in the country, with a methodistical mother), that she should have fallen into such hands as her aunt. Lady —— is enough to spoil any girl’s fortune in London.’

‘I thought that the —— were people of high consideration,’ said Lord Cadurcis.

‘Consideration!’ exclaimed Lady Monteagle. ‘If you mean that they are people of rank, and good blood, and good property, they are certainly people of consideration; but they are Goths, Vandals, Huns, Calmucks, Canadian savages! They have no fashion, no style, no ton, no influence in the world. It is impossible that a greater misfortune could have befallen your beauty than having s............