“I am glad of it,” said the Honourable Philippa, smiling graciously, while Ruth, open-eyed and listening, went on with her breakfast, wondering at the change. “He is the great financier—enormously wealthy. I hear that he is to be made a duke by the Austrian emperor. He is already a chevalier.”
“Indeed, aunt?” said Clotilde, who also was thinking of Captain Glen.
“Yes, my dear; his houses are a marvel, I believe, for their wealth and display.”
“Is he a Jew, aunt?” said Marie innocently.
“My dear child, no! How can you ask such a question, Marie? I have heard something about his family being of Hebrew descent—Eastern Hebrew descent—Elbraham, Abraham, very ancient, no doubt; but I don’t know for certain, and really I do not care to know: for what does it matter?”
“Yes, what indeed?” said her sister. “A very gentlemanly, highly-cultured man.”
“With a wonderful knowledge of the world and its ways. He has been a deal in Egypt, did not Lady Littletown say, Isabella?”
“Yes, with the Khedive,” was the reply. “Enormously wealthy.”
The breakfast ended, the young ladies were dismissed.
“I would not go to the schoolroom this morning, my dears,” said the elder sister; “go and lie down for an hour or two and rest. After lunch Lady Littletown is coming with the carriage to take you for a drive, and I should like you to look your best.”