"Why, demme, that Stour did anything dishonourable?"
"Why should I not think that?" retorted Mr. Betterton, with a slight Elevation of the Eyebrows.
"Because he is a Stourcliffe of Stour, Sir," broke in Sir George Etherege in that loud, blustering way he hath at times; "and bears one of the greatest Names in the Land."
"A great Name is hereditary, Sir," rejoined the great Actor quietly. "Honesty is not."
"But what does Lady Castlemaine say about it all?" interposed Lord Orrery.
"Lady Castlemaine hath not been questioned on the subject, I imagine," interposed Sir William Davenant drily.
"Ah!" rejoined His Grace of Buckingham. "There you are wrong, Davenant. I remember speaking to her Ladyship about Stour one day—saying how glad I was that he, at any rate, had had nothing to do with that abominable Affair."
"Well?" came eagerly from every one. "What did she say?"
His Grace remained thoughtful for a time, as if trying to recollect Something that was eluding his Memory. Then he said, turning to Mr. Betterton:
"Why, Tom, you were there at the time. Do You recollect? It was at one of Her Ladyship's Supper Parties. His Majesty was present. We all fell to talking about the Conspiracy, and the King said some very bitter things. Then I thought I would say something about Stour. You remember?"