"But they do say she's not married and it isn't hers," said the lady's maid, shaking her head. "They say now that she has adopted it."
"When I hear of young ladies adopting infants in obscure parts of the country, I know what to think," said Ridley.
"Lord, Mr. Ridley, but I can't believe it of her," urged the maid.
"I am alleging nothing against her young ladyship," said Ridley. "She states it is hers. I said that if she stated that she had adopted it, I should know what to think. When she states it, I will tell you what I think. And in the meantime I may say that I expect every one connected with this unseemly business to be here shortly. I am a man of some discernment. This adoption rumour will encourage these poor gentlemen, who are all mad, and they will follow her Grace here, or I am a mere footman in a poor family and my name's not Ridley."
It apparently was Ridley, for there was a very loud knock at the door.
"Mr. Ridley, will you see this gentleman?" said the footman, handing the butler a card, on which was engraved the name of Leopold Norfolk Gordon. "He seems very excited. I think he's a Jew."
"A Jew!" said Ridley.
"By the looks of 'im a Jew," said the footman. And her Grace's maid gave them a few details of Mr. Gordon's career.
"Oh, yes, of course," said Ridley. "I remember. Let him wait, Johnson. He can wait in the little room. As a Christian, I confess to feeling bitter against Jews, especially as I once borrowed money from one."
"This is a very nice one, though," said the lady's maid, "and Mr. Robert is quite fond of him."