Lord Albert heard these remarks with indignation as he returned with water, and could not help casting a look at the speakers, that they well understood.
"Upon my word," observed Lord Boileau, "that man is quite insufferable. I thought he was improved since he lived amongst us; but I suppose he looks forward to rival Leslie Winyard, and will not hear the lady's fame called in question on account of any one but himself."
"Bah!" replied Lord Gascoigne; "Lady Hamlet Vernon will never suffer that."
"Is that really as people say?" asked Lord Boileau.
"Oh! quite settled long ago," answered Lord Gascoigne; "and as she is a maitresse femme, she will not allow him to forsake her quietly."
"How very beautiful, how very lovely she is, Boileau!" said Lord Baskerville, approaching at that moment; "now that she can neither talk nor laugh, she is quite charming—hem! I never knew before that she was handsome—hem! She ought to do nothing but faint—hem!"
"Yes," they both replied, "she is very lovely indeed." "I rather envy Leslie Winyard," cried Lord Boileau: "that fellow has always been lucky. But have you seen Lady Adeline Seymour, la nouveauté du jour? Rather raw and unfledged yet, but she will be a very fine creature a year or two hence."
"Don't you know her story?" whispered Lord Baskerville, approaching his mouth to the ear of Lord Boileau.
"No—yes—I did hear something of it. She is going to be married, isn't she?"