"I am indeed glad of that," he said sternly.
"That is a gallant youngster," said the King. "I ever liked him. I will keep him about me; he is a pleasant creature."
"He is," replied Portland; "a rakehelly good-for-nought, as every one knows."
William smiled faintly; he was the most tolerant of men, and had no interest in those faults that did not cross his designs.
"I have loved rakes before," he said, and looked at my Lord Romney.
The two Englishmen laughed a little, but Portland answered, with some anger—
"He is a young prodigal with more debts than wits; you should not have given him your hand."
The King did not resent his friend's brusque address, he answered quietly, in his weak voice—
"It would give me pleasure to pay some of those debts."
Sunderland softly put in a remark.