‘Ay! if he had the chance—which I much doubt he ever will have,’ laughed Captain Knyvett.
‘Jack—who?’ demanded Nora.
‘Jack Portland, my darling,’ replied her husband, ‘I must have mentioned him to you, surely! He’s one of my greatest friends, we’ve been a lot together, on the turf and elsewhere. Jack’s one of the most reliable prophets I ever came across. He can always give a fellow the straight tip, and he’s marvellously correct; isn’t he, Castelton?’
‘Oh, yes, very good, when he likes,’ acquiesced that gentleman.
‘Oh, come Castelton, that’s not fair,’ cried the earl; ‘old Jack’s always ready to oblige a chum, and I never knew him to make a wrong un. I know he’s won me pots of money, over and over again!’
‘And lost them for you too, Ilfracombe,’ replied Mr Castelton.
‘Are we likely to see much of this immaculate being on our return to England?’ inquired the countess in a rather tart tone. ‘He does not appear to me to be a very desirable acquaintance.’
‘Oh, my darling, you are quite mistaken,’ exclaimed Ilfracombe. ‘Poor old Jack is the best-natured fellow in the world. I am sure you will like him immensely. You mustn’t think that he obtrudes his sporting proclivities on the drawing-room. No man knows better how to behave in the company of ladies than Jack Portland—indeed, he has rather a character for liking their society too much. See the mischief you have done, Castelton! You have made my wife’s lip curl at the mere idea of our sporting friend.’
‘Indeed, Mr Castelton has done nothing of the sort, Ilfracombe, for, as it happens, I already know Mr Portland, though I had no idea he was one of your friends.’
‘You know Jack Portland!’ cried the earl with unaffected surprise. ‘Where on earth did you meet him, and why have you not spoken of him to me before?’