It is evident to the whole company, though nobody can see him, that Sir Leicester is staring majestically.
“And he was much assisted,” says Mr. Tulkinghorn as a wind-up, “by his son.”
“By his son, sir?” repeats Sir Leicester with awful politeness.
“By his son.”
“The son who wished to marry the young woman in my Lady’s service?”
“That son. He has but one.”
“Then upon my honour,” says Sir Leicester after a terrific pause during which he has been heard to snort and felt to stare, “then upon my honour, upon my life, upon my reputation and principles, the floodgates of society are burst open, and the waters have—a—obliterated the landmarks of the framework of the cohesion by which things are held together!”
General burst of cousinly indignation. Volumnia thinks it is really high time, you know, for somebody in power to step in and do something strong. Debilitated cousin thinks—country’s going—Dayvle—steeple-chase pace.
“I beg,” says Sir Leicester in a breathless condition, “that we may not comment further on this circumstance. Comment is superfluous. My Lady, let me suggest in reference to that young woman—”
“I have no intention,” observes my Lady from her window in a low but decided tone, “of parting with her.”