"I do already, Scott, but for business reasons."
Mr. Little sent for reporters on two of the daily papers, and managed to have his presence in the earl's box prominently mentioned. Loammi was immensely gratified, and contrived to make himself conspicuous, while Scott modestly withdrew into the background.
Seth Lawton happened to reach New York on the morning following the theatre party. He read in amazement the paragraph which served to indicate the intimacy of his relatives with the earl.
"My young cousin is getting on," he said. "Well, he deserves it."
Mr. Lawton himself was modest, and was considerably surprised when Scott brought him a cordial invitation to dine at the Windsor with the earl.
"I don't know, Scott," he said. "I am an old-fashioned fellow. I am not used to stylish company."
"The earl will like you all the better on that account."
Scott was right. The Earl of Windermere could see the sterling gold in Cousin Seth's character, and treated him with a cordiality that pleased the old man.
"I never thought I should like an earl," he said afterward to Scott, "but your friend is a trump. He ought to be an American citizen."