“You mistake, my dear; you are confounding the occasion with the costume,” said Lady Lackington; and her eyes sparkled with the malice of her remark.
Mr. Spicer's face exhibited as much enjoyment of the wit as he deemed decorous to the party satirized.
“And now, sir, for the important part of your mission r have you obtained any information about my brother-in-law?”
“Yes, my Lady, I saw him at Chiavenna. He drove up to the post-house to change horses as we were there; he told me, in the few minutes we spoke together, that they were on their way to Rome.”
“Whom do you mean, sir, when you say 'they'?”
“Lord and Lady Lackington, my Lady.”
“Is he married? Did you say he was married, sir?'” exclaimed she, in a voice discordant above all her efforts to restrain.
“Yes, my Lady; I was, in a manner, presented to her Ladyship, who was, I must say, a very beautiful person—”
“I want no raptures, sir; are you quite certain she was his wife?”
“His Lordship told me so, my Lady; and when they reached the Hôtel Royal, at Milan, I took occasion to question the courier! whom I knew before, and he told me all about it.”