“Yes, one world, I 'm sure he does! A world of essenced old dandies and painted dowagers, surrounded by thieving lackeys and cringing followers; where everything can be done by bribery, and nothing without it. But that's not England, I'm proud to say; nor will it be, I hope, for many a day to come.”
“I wish, sir, you could be induced to give your aid to Culduff in this matter. I need not say what an influence it would exert over my own fortunes.”
“You must win your way, Temple, by your own merits,” said he, haughtily. “I 'd be ashamed to think that a son of mine owed any share of his success in life to ignoble acts or backstairs influence. Go back and tell Lord Culduff from me, that so far as I know it, Lord Rigglesworth's advice is my own. No wise man ever courts a public scandal; and he would be less than wise to confront one, with the certainty of being overwhelmed by it.”
“Will you see him, sir? Will you speak to him yourself?”
“I 'd rather not. It would be a needless pain to each of us.”
“I suspect he means to leave this to-night.”
“Not the worst thing he could do.”
“But you 'll see him, to say good-bye?”
“Certainly; and all the more easily if we have no conversation in the mean while. Who's that knocking? Is the door locked?”
Temple hastened to open the door, and found Mr. Cutbill begging to have five minutes' conversation with Colonel Bramleigh.