"Thank you, no. I am dining at the Austens'."
"Where?" the elder Paliser asked. He had heard but he wanted it repeated. It seemed vaguely promising.
"At the Austens'. You may remember that the pearl of the household was engaged. It's off."
Slowly the old man twisted. "What is? The engagement?"
"So her mother told me."
"And you are dining there."
"In a few minutes."
The old man took it in, turned it over. It seemed not only victory but peace, and peace with annexation.
"Very good then. I draw the veil over your road-house. Put the young woman in a flat. Put her in two flats. Nobody who is anybody ever sees anything that was not intended for them. Don't beat the drum. That is all that the right people ask and all I require, except——"
He paused, considered the annexation and added: "I wish you an excellent appetite. Austen himself was a drivelling idiot and his wife used to be a rare old girl—is still, I daresay—but they came of good stock, and the daughter has looks and no brains. You couldn't do better."