The man went out of the room. And Claudia turned upon her husband:
"Lord Vincent, I do not know in what light you consider it; but I think your conduct shows bad wit and worse manners."
"Lady Vincent, I am sorry you should disapprove of it," said his lordship, falling to upon his beefsteak and ale, the fumes of which soon filled the room.
But that was nothing to what was coming. When he had finished his supper he coolly took a pipe from his pocket, filled it with "negro- head," and prepared to light it. Then stopping in the midst of his operations, he looked at Claudia and inquired:
"Do you dislike tobacco smoke?"
"I do not know, my lord. No gentleman ever smoked in my presence," replied Claudia haughtily.
"Oh, then, of course, you don't know, and never will until you try.
There is nothing like experiment."
And Lord Vincent put the pipe between his lips and puffed away vigorously. The room was soon filled with smoke. That, combined with the smell of the beefsteak and the ale, really sickened Claudia. She went to the window, raised it and looked out.
"You will take cold," said his lordship.
"I would rather take cold than breathe this air," was her reply.