‘But they say it requires a deuced deal of history,’ continued Mr. Cassilis. ‘One must brush up one’s Goldsmith. Canterton used to be the fellow for history at White’s. He was always boring one with William the Conqueror, Julius Caesar, and all that sort of thing.’
‘I tell you what,’ said Mr. Ormsby, looking both sly and solemn, ‘I should not be surprised if, some day or another, we have a history about Lady Everingham and young Coningsby.’
‘Poh!’ said Mr. Melton; ‘he is engaged to be married to her sister, Lady Theresa.’
‘The deuce!’ said Mr. Ormsby; ‘well, you are a friend of the family, and I suppose you know.’
‘He is a devilish good-looking fellow, that young Coningsby,’ said Mr. Cassilis. ‘All the women are in love with him, they say. Lady Eleanor Ducie quite raves about him.’
‘By-the-bye, his grandfather has been very unwell,’ said Mr. Ormsby, looking mysteriously.
‘I saw Lady Monmouth here just now,’ said Mr. Melton.
‘Oh! he is quite well again,’ said Mr. Ormsby.
‘Got an odd story at White’s that Lord Monmouth was going to separate from her,’ said Mr. Cassilis.
‘No foundation,’ said Mr. Ormsby, shaking his head.