"They are old rivals," replied the Beau.
"Would Sir Percival marry her, do you think?"
"No one can answer that question, Mrs. Fitz, but Lovelace himself. Shall I tell him you would like to know?"
"Not for the world, Mr. Sheridan," she exclaimed. "It is not my affair."
"If Percy is contemplating matrimony it will surprise many who know him well," returned Brummell, seating himself near by. "But then he always was an eccentric dog."
"They would never agree."
"Well," said Mr. Sheridan, "it is well known that if the bride and the groom did not have their little differences they would not care to marry."
"Ahem! Have you read Mr. Rogers's new poem?" asked the lady, skilfully changing the subject.
"'The Pleasures of Memory'? Egad, I obtain much more pleasure by forgetting," said Sheridan, taking snuff.
"So the tradesmen say, Sherry."