“We only arrived half an hour ago.”
“I must order you some lunch. I'm sure you can eat something.”
“My Lady is hungry; she said so as we came along,” said Lord Culduff. “Allow me to ring for you. As for myself, I take Liebig's lozenges and a spoonful of Curaçoa—nothing else—before dinner.”
“It's so pleasant to live with people who are 'dieted,'” said Marion, with a sneering emphasis on the word.
“So I hear from Bramleigh,” interposed Lord Culduff, “that this man—I forget his name—actually broke into the house at Casteilo, and carried away a quantity of papers.”
“My Lord, as your Lordship is so palpably referring to me, and as I am quite sure you are not aware of my identity, may I hasten to say I am Count Pracontal de Bramleigh?”
“Oh, dear! have I forgotten to present you?” said Lady Augusta, with a perfect simplicity of manner.
Marion acknowledged the introduction by the slightest imaginable bow, and a look of cold defiance; while Lord Culduff smiled blandly, and professed his regret if he had uttered a word that could occasion pain.
“Love and war are chartered libertines, and why not law?” said the Viscount. “I take it that all stratagems are available; the great thing is, they should be successful.”
“Count Pracontal declares that he can pledge himself to the result,” said Lady Augusta. “The case, in fact, as he represents it, is as good as determined.”