“Such infernal, audacious, dem’d impertinence should not be permitted for a dem’d moment, by Gad!” quavered fierce old Lord Aldbourne.
“Paper should be publicly burned!” quoth Captain Armitage.
“And the impudent editor-fellow instantly hanged!” added my Lord Sayle fiercely, while divers other gentlemen said much the same and quite as ferociously.
“You are alluding to the report in The Monitor, I think?” inquired my lady serenely.
“Indeed, yes, my dearest!” answered Lady Belinda languishing. “To the—the scandalous notice concerning you, my love, and that—that infamous Dering creature! Needless to say, dear Herminia, we are all positively sure that ’tis basely false—a most wicked invention not worthy a moment’s credit, though, to be sure—you was in France very lately, my sweet soul, was you not?”
“Yes, dear Herminia,” sighed Lady Prudence, “and Mr. Scarsdale here assures us that he met and spoke with Sir John Dering on the road between Dieppe and Paris! Is it not so, sir?”
“Beyond all question, ladies!” answered Mr. Scarsdale, stepping forward and bowing with a flourish. “Not only did I see Sir John, but conversed with him——”
“Eh—eh?” cried old Lord Aldbourne pettishly, curving talon-like fingers about his ear. “Eh, sir—cursed with him, d’ye say? What about, pray?”
“I said ‘conversed,’ my lord,” answered Mr. Scarsdale, flushing a little.
“Then dammit, sir, speak up, sir!” commanded his ancient lordship. “Be good enough to remember that my dem’d ears are not so young as they were!”