‘I am in the secret, you know,’ said her ladyship.
‘What secret, Lady Bellair?’
‘Ah! you will not commit yourself. Well, I like discretion. I have always seen it from the first. No one has worked for you as I have. I like true love, and I have left her all my china in my will.’
‘I am sure the legatee is very fortunate, whoever she may be.’
‘Ah, you rogue, you know very well whom I mean. You are saucy; you never had a warmer friend than myself. I always admired you; you have a great many good qualities and a great many bad ones. You always were a little saucy. But I like a little spice of sauciness; I think it takes. I hear you are great friends with Count Thingabob; the Count, whose grandfather I danced with seventy years ago. That is right; always have distinguished friends. Never have fools for friends; they are no use. I suppose he is in the secret too.’
‘Really, Lady Bellair, I am in no secret. You quite excite my curiosity.’
‘Well, I can’t get anything out of you, I see that. However, it all happened at my house, that can’t be denied. I tell you what I will do; I will give you all a dinner, and then the world will be quite certain that I made the match.’
Lady Armine joined them, and Ferdinand seized the opportunity of effecting his escape to the piano.
‘I suppose Henrietta has found her voice again, now,’ whispered Katherine to her cousin.
‘Dear Katherine, really if you are so malicious, I shall punish you,’ said Ferdinand.