"Indeed, sir, if I do not know it, I wonder who else does, considering I am its owner?" said the gentleman, smiling.
Mr. Lennox's surprise was great.
"You the Duke of Richmond. I am sure I beg your Grace's pardon."
"There is no need—thought is free—every one may have his own opinion."
"Then I may claim the honour of relationship to your Grace, being a Lennox myself."
"I doubt it not," said the Duke, shaking hands. "The Duke of Leinster, you know, was not ashamed to claim cousinship with every beggar who bore the name of Fitzgerald; and I am sure I am honoured by claiming it with you."
Mr. Lennox felt that beneath this compliment indirectly he had been called a beggar, and was not over-pleased with his first interview with his noble relative—nor with his conversation.
Meanwhile, the room had filled with ladies and gentlemen; and when the gong sounded more than thirty descended to dinner. Mr. Lennox, owing to the scarcity of ladies, and general rank of the other gentlemen, was forced to walk down with Johnny as a companion.
"We cut but poor figures," said Johnny, "with no ladies to take down."
Mr. Lennox vouchsafed no reply to this, as he thought, impertinent remark.