This happy suggestion was loudly applauded, and the healths were drunk off amid acclamation, the only one who did not heartily join in it being Sir Henry de la Zouch, who was annoyed to find that his petty attempt to spite his rival had failed, and that, too, by the intervention of Dorothy herself.
"Confound it all," he muttered, "he shall not escape me like this.
Eustace."
"Did you call?" asked the page, bending down.
"Yes," whispered De la Zouch. "Listen, you remember the Derby packman?"
"Aye, too well, I do."
"Nonsense," he replied, softly; "Master Manners killed him."
"Oh!" gasped the astounded page.
"Remember," added his master, "it was Manners."
"Yes, Master John Manners," repeated Eustace.
"Hush, that is all. A little more of that delicious jelly of yours, sweet Dorothy," he added in a louder tone as he turned round again to the table.