Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce his lordship in return, that she might mystify the old spinster.
'I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company of Miss Ossulton,' said Pickersgill. 'Ladies, we wait but for you to sit down. Ossulton, take the head of the table and serve the soup.
Miss Ossulton was astonished; she looked at the smugglers, and perceived two well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of whom was apparently a lord, and the other having the same family name.
'It must be all a hoax,' thought she, and she very quietly took to her soup.
The dinner passed off very pleasantly; Pickersgill was agreeable, Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered herself as to drink wine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett what branch of their family he belonged to.
'I presume it's the Irish branch?' said Mrs. Lascelles, prompting him.
'Exactly, madam,' replied Corbett.
'Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies?' inquired Pickersgill.
'No, my lord,' answered Mrs. Lascelles.
'We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and probably remain there till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee. Tell the cook these cutlets were remarkably well dressed.'