XIX. WHAT PASSED BETWEEN LORD COURLAND AND MR. CARTERET.
Lord Courland was in the drawing-room after breakfast, amusing himself as well as he could, and hoping Mrs. Calverley would soon make her appearance and dispel his ennui, when Norris brought him a message from Mr. Carteret, who said that, if perfectly convenient to his lordship, he should be glad to see him for a few minutes.
Lord Courland was delighted. He was aware that Mr. Carteret was Mrs. Calverley's lawyer, and was particularly anxious to have a little conversation with him.
“I'll come to him at once,” he said. “Where is he?”
“I'll take your lordship to him,” replied the butler.
And he conducted him to the cabinet, in which, as we have explained, Mrs. Calverley was wont to transact her private business.
Mr. Carteret was alone, and bowed very respectfully as his lordship entered.
After a little preliminary discourse, Lord Courland remarked, in a very easy tone, as if everything was satisfactorily settled: