He was true to his promise. In a short time he returned—so short, that his lordship could scarce have done more than bid him the time of day.
In truth he had not seen the nobleman, nor intended seeing him either. It was a counterfeit call; and went no further than a word or two exchanged with the house steward inside the hall.
But he did not tell this to his fair companion in the cabriolet; and she was driven back into Bond Street, and landed triumphantly at the Clarendon, under the eyes of her mother, admiring her from the window.
When that lady had an account of the drive in general, but more especially of the call that had been made, her respect for Mr Swinton was still further increased. He was surely the thing sought for! And Julia began to think so too.
Chapter Seventy One.
A Quiet Hotel.
By the drive Swinton believed himself to have achieved a grand success; and he determined to lose no time in following it up.
The ground seemed now well under him—enough to support him in making the proposal so long deferred.