conversedchiefly
with
the
men
,
particularly
with
the
Governor
of
the
Bank
,
who
seemed
to
interest
him
much
,
and
a
director
of
one
of
the
dock
companies
,
who
offered
to
show
him
over
their
establishment
,
an
offer
which
Colonel
Albert
eagerly
accepted
.
Then
,
as
if
he
remembered
that
homage
was
due
at
such
a
moment
to
the
fairer
sex
,
he
went
and
seated
himself
by
Adriana
,
and
was
playful
and
agreeable
,
though
when
she
was
cross-examined
afterwards
by
her
friends
as
to
the
character
of
his
conversation
,
she
really
could
not
recall
anything
particular
except
that
he
was
fond
of
horses
,
and
said
that
he
should
like
very
much
to
take
a
ride
with
her
.
Just
before
he
took
his
departure
,
Colonel
Albert
addressed
Myra
,
and
in
a
rather
strange
manner
.
He
said
,
“
I
have
been
puzzling
myself
all
dinner
,
but
I
cannot
help
feeling
that
we
have
met
before
.
”
Myra
shook
her
head
and
said
,
“
I
think
that
is
impossible
.
”
“
Well
,
”
said
the
colonel
with
a
look
a
little
perplexed
and
not
altogether
satisfied
,
“
I
suppose
then
it
was
a
dream
.
May
dreams
so
delightful
,
”
and
he
bowed
,
“
never
be
wanting
!
”
“
So
you
think
he
is
a
poet
,
Emily
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
when
they
had
all
gone
.
“
We
have
got
a
good
many
of
his
papers
in
Bishopsgate
Street
,
but
I
have
not
met
with
any
verses
in
them
yet
.
”
The
visit
of
Colonel
Albert
was
soon
repeated
,
and
he
became
a
rather
frequent
guest
at
Hainault
.
It
was
evident
that
he
was
a
favourite
with
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
He
knows
very
few
people
,
”
he
would
say
,
“
and
I
wish
him
to
make
some
friends
.
Poor
young
fellow
:
he
has
had
rather
a
hard
life
of
it
,
and
seen
some
service
for
such
a
youth
.
He
is
a
perfect
gentleman
,
and
if
he
be
a
poet
,
Emily
,
that
is
all
in
your
way
.
You
like
literary
people
,
and
are
always
begging
that
I
should
ask
them
.
Well
,
next
Saturday
you
will
have
a
sort
of
a
lion
—
one
of
the
principal
writers
in
‘Scaramouch.’
He
is
going
to
Paris
as
the
foreign
correspondent
of
the
‘Chuck-Farthing
,
’
with
a
thousand
a
year
,
and
one
of
my
friends
in
the
Stock
Exchange
,
who
is
his
great
ally
,
asked
me
to
give
him
some
letters
.
So
he
came
to
Bishopsgate
Street
—
they
all
come
to
Bishopsgate
Street
—
and
I
asked
him
to
dine
here
on
Saturday
.
By
the
by
,
Miss
Ferrars
,
ask
your
brother
to
come
on
the
same
day
and
stay
with
us
till
Monday
.
I
will
take
him
up
to
town
with
me
quite
in
time
for
his
office
.
”
This
was
the
first
time
that
Endymion
had
remained
at
Hainault
.
He
looked
forward
to
the
visit
with
anticipation
of
great
pleasure
.
Hainault
,
and
all
the
people
there
,
and
everything
about
it
,
delighted
him
,
and
most
of
all
the
happiness
of
his
sister
and
the
consideration
,
and
generosity
,
and
delicate
affection
with
which
she
was
treated
.
One
morning
,
to
his
astonishment
,
Myra
had
insisted
upon
his
accepting
from
her
no
inconsiderable
sum
of
money
.
“
It
is
no
part
of
my
salary
,
”
she
said
,
when
he
talked
of
her
necessities
.
“
Mr.
Neuchatel
said
he
gave
it
to
me
for
outfit
and
to
buy
gloves
.
But
being
in
mourning
I
want
to
buy
nothing
,
and
you
,
dear
darling
,
must
have
many
wants
.
Besides
,
Mrs.
Neuchatel
has
made
me
so
many
presents
that
I
really
do
not
think
that
I
shall
ever
want
to
buy
anything
again
.
”
It
was
rather
a
grand
party
at
Hainault
,
such
as
Endymion
had
little
experience
of
.
There
was
a
cabinet
minister
and
his
wife
,
not
only
an
ambassador
,
but
an
ambassadress
who
had
been
asked
to
meet
them
,
a
nephew
Neuchatel
,
the
M.P.
with
a
pretty
young
wife
,
and
several
apparently
single
gentlemen
of
note
and
position
.
Endymion
was
nervous
when
he
entered
,
and
more
so
because
Myra
was
not
in
the
room
.
But
his
trepidation
was
absorbed
in
his
amazement
when
in
the
distance
he
observed
St.
Barbe
,
with
a
very
stiff
white
cravat
,
and
his
hair
brushed
into
unnatural
order
,
and
his
whole
demeanour
forming
a
singular
contrast
to
the
rollicking
cynicisms
of
Joe’s
and
the
office
.
Mr.
Neuchatel
presented
St.
Barbe
to
the
lady
of
the
mansion
.
“
Here
is
one
of
our
greatest
wits
,
”
said
the
banker
,
“
and
he
is
going
to
Paris
,
which
is
the
capital
of
wits
.
”
The
critical
moment
prevented
prolonged
conversation
,
but
the
lady
of
the
mansion
did
contrive
to
convey
to
St.
Barbe
her
admiring
familiarity
with
some
of
his
effusions
,
and
threw
out
a
phrase
which
proved
how
finely
she
could
distinguish
between
wit
and
humour
.
Endymion
at
dinner
sate
between
two
M.P.‘s
,
whom
his
experience
at
the
House
of
Commons
allowed
him
to
recognise
.
As
he
was
a
young
man
whom
neither
of
them
knew
,
neither
of
them
addressed
him
,
but
with
delicate
breeding
carried
on
an
active
conversation
across
him
,
as
if
in
fact
he
were
not
present
.
As
Endymion
had
very
little
vanity
,
this
did
not
at
all
annoy
him
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
was
amused
,
for
they
spoke
of
matters
with
which
he
was
not
unacquainted
,
though
he
looked
as
if
he
knew
or
heard
nothing
.
Their
conversation
was
what
is
called
“
shop
:
”
all
about
the
House
and
office
;
criticisms
on
speakers
,
speculations
as
to
preferment
,
what
Government
would
do
about
this
,
and
how
well
Government
got
out
of
that
.
Endymion
was
amused
by
seeing
Myra
,
who
was
remote
from
him
,
sitting
by
St.
Barbe
,
who
,
warmed
by
the
banquet
,
was
evidently
holding
forth
without
the
slightest
conception
that
his
neighbour
whom
he
addressed
had
long
become
familiar
with
his
characteristics
.
After
dinner
St.
Barbe
pounced
upon
Endymion
.
“
Only
think
of
our
meeting
here
!
”
he
said
.
“
I
wonder
why
they
asked
you
.
You
are
not
going
to
Paris
,
and
you
are
not
a
wit
.
What
a
family
this
is
!
”
he
said
;
“
I
had
no
idea
of
wealth
before
!
Did
you
observe
the
silver
plate
?
I
could
not
hold
mine
with
one
hand
,
it
was
so
heavy
.
I
do
not
suppose
there
are
such
plates
in
the
world
.
It
gives
one
an
idea
of
the
galleons
and
Anson’s
plunder
.
But
they
deserve
their
wealth
,
”
he
added
,
“
nobody
grudges
it
to
them
.
I
declare
when
I
was
eating
that
truffle
,
I
felt
a
glow
about
my
heart
that
,
if
it
were
not
indigestion
,
I
think
must
have
been
gratitude
;
though
that
is
an
article
I
had
not
believed
in
.
He
is
a
wonderful
man
,
that
Neuchatel
.
If
I
had
only
known
him
a
year
ago
!
I
would
have
dedicated
my
novel
to
him
.
He
is
a
sort
of
man
who
would
have
given
you
a
cheque
immediately
.
He
would
not
have
read
it
,
to
be
sure
,
but
what
of
that
?
If
you
had
dedicated
it
to
a
lord
,
the
most
he
would
have
done
would
have
been
to
ask
you
to
dinner
,
and
then
perhaps
cut
up
your
work
in
one
of
the
Quality
reviews
,
and
taken
money
for
doing
it
out
of
our
pockets
!
Oh
!
it’s
too
horrid
!
There
are
some
topsawyers
here
to-day
,
Ferrars
!
It
would
make
Seymour
Hicks’
mouth
water
to
be
here
.
We
should
have
had
it
in
the
papers
,
and
he
would
have
left
us
out
of
the
list
,
and
called
us
,
etc.
Now
I
dare
say
that
ambassador
has
been
blundering
all
his
life
,
and
yet
there
is
something
in
that
star
and
ribbon
;
I
do
not
know
how
you
feel
,
but
I
could
almost
go
down
on
my
knees
to
him
.
And
there
is
a
cabinet
minister
;
well
,
we
know
what
he
is
;
I
have
been
squibbing
him
for
these
two
years
,
and
now
that
I
meet
him
I
feel
like
a
snob
.
Oh
!
there
is
an
immense
deal
of
superstition
left
in
the
world
.
I
am
glad
they
are
going
to
the
ladies
.
I
am
to
be
honoured
by
some
conversation
with
the
mistress
of
the
house
.
She
seems
a
first-rate
woman
,
familiar
with
the
glorious
pages
of
a
certain
classic
work
,
and
my
humble
effusions
.
She
praised
one
she
thought
I
wrote
,
but
between
ourselves
it
was
written
by
that
fellow
Seymour
Hicks
,
who
imitates
me
;
but
I
would
not
put
her
right
,
as
dinner
might
have
been
announced
every
moment
.
But
she
is
a
great
woman
,
sir
,
—
wonderful
eyes
!
They
are
all
great
women
here
.
I
sat
next
to
one
of
the
daughters
,
or
daughters-in-law
,
or
nieces
,
I
suppose
.
By
Jove
!
it
was
tierce
and
quart
.
If
you
had
been
there
,
you
would
have
been
run
through
in
a
moment
.
I
had
to
show
my
art
.
Now
they
are
rising
.
I
should
not
be
surprised
if
Mr.
Neuchatel
were
to
present
me
to
some
of
the
grandees
.
I
believe
them
to
be
all
impostors
,
but
still
it
is
pleasant
to
talk
to
a
man
with
a
star
.
“
‘Ye
stars
,
which
are
the
poetry
of
heaven
,
’
“
Byron
wrote
;
a
silly
line
;
he
should
have
written
,
“
‘Ye
stars
,
which
are
the
poetry
of
dress.’
”
CHAPTER
XXXIV
St.
Barbe
was
not
disappointed
in
his
hopes
.
It
was
an
evening
of
glorious
success
for
him
.
He
had
even
the
honour
of
sitting
for
a
time
by
the
side
of
Mrs.
Neuchatel
,
and
being
full
of
good
claret
,
he
,
as
he
phrased
it
,
showed
his
paces
;
that
is
to
say
,
delivered
himself
of
some
sarcastic
paradoxes
duly
blended
with
fulsome
flattery
.
Later
in
the
evening
,
he
contrived
to
be
presented
both
to
the
ambassador
and
the
cabinet
minister
,
and
treated
them
as
if
they
were
demigods
;
listened
to
them
as
if
with
an
admiration
which
he
vainly
endeavoured
to
repress
;
never
spoke
except
to
enforce
and
illustrate
the
views
which
they
had
condescended
to
intimate
;
successfully
conveyed
to
his
excellency
that
he
was
conversing
with
an
enthusiast
for
his
exalted
profession
;
and
to
the
minister
that
he
had
met
an
ardent
sympathiser
with
his
noble
career
.
The
ambassador
was
not
dissatisfied
with
the
impression
he
had
made
on
one
of
the
foreign
correspondents
of
the
“
Chuck-Farthing
,
”
and
the
minister
flattered
himself
that
both
the
literary
and
the
graphic
representations
of
himself
in
“
Scaramouch
”
might
possibly
for
the
future
be
mitigated
.
“
I
have
done
business
to-night
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
to
Endymion
,
towards
the
close
of
the
evening
.
“
You
did
not
know
I
had
left
the
old
shop
?
I
kept
it
close
.
I
could
stand
it
no
longer
.
One
has
energies
,
sir
,
though
not
recognised
—
at
least
not
recognised
much
,
”
he
added
thoughtfully
.
“
But
who
knows
what
may
happen
?
The
age
of
mediocrity
is
not
eternal
.
You
see
this
thing
offered
,
and
I
saw
an
opening
.
It
has
come
already
.
You
saw
the
big-wigs
all
talking
to
me
?
I
shall
go
to
Paris
now
with
some
eclat
.
I
shall
invent
a
new
profession
;
the
literary
diplomatist
.
The
bore
is
,
I
know
nothing
about
foreign
politics
.
My
line
has
been
the
other
way
.
Never
mind
;
I
will
read
the
‘Debats’
and
the
‘Revue
des
Deux
Mondes
,
’
and
make
out
something
.
Foreign
affairs
are
all
the
future
,
and
my
views
may
be
as
right
as
anybody
else’s
;
probably
more
correct
,
not
so
conventional
.
What
a
fool
I
was
,
Ferrars
!
I
was
asked
to
remain
here
to-night
and
refused
!
The
truth
is
,
I
could
not
stand
those
powdered
gentlemen
,
and
I
should
have
been
under
their
care
.
They
seem
so
haughty
and
supercilious
.
And
yet
I
was
wrong
.
I
spoke
to
one
of
them
very
rudely
just
now
,
when
he
was
handing
coffee
,
to
show
I
was
not
afraid
,
and
he
answered
me
like
a
seraph
.
I
felt
remorse
.
”
“
Well
,
I
have
made
the
acquaintance
of
Mr.
St.
Barbe
,
”
said
Myra
to
Endymion
.
“
Strange
as
he
is
,
he
seemed
quite
familiar
to
me
,
and
he
was
so
full
of
himself
that
he
never
found
me
out
.
I
hope
some
day
to
know
Mr.
Trenchard
and
Mr.
Waldershare
.
Those
I
look
upon
as
your
chief
friends
.
”
On
the
following
afternoon
,
Adriana
,
Myra
,
and
Endymion
took
a
long
walk
together
in
the
forest
.
The
green
glades
in
the
autumnal
woods
were
inviting
,
and
sometimes
they
stood
before
the
vast
form
of
some
doddered
oak
.
The
air
was
fresh
and
the
sun
was
bright
.
Adriana
was
always
gay
and
happy
in
the
company
of
her
adored
Myra
,
and
her
happiness
and
her
gaiety
were
not
diminished
by
the
presence
of
Myra’s
brother
.
So
it
was
a
lively
and
pleasant
walk
.
At
the
end
of
a
long
glade
they
observed
a
horseman
followed
by
a
groom
approaching
them
.
Endymion
was
some
little
way
behind
,
gathering
wild
flowers
for
Adriana
.
Cantering
along
,
the
cavalier
soon
reached
them
,
and
then
he
suddenly
pulled
up
his
horse
.
It
was
Colonel
Albert
.
“
You
are
walking
,
ladies
?
Permit
me
to
join
you
,
”
and
he
was
by
their
side
.
“
I
delight
in
forests
and
in
green
alleys
,
”
said
Colonel
Albert
.
“
Two
wandering
nymphs
make
the
scene
perfect
.
”
“
We
are
not
alone
,
”
said
Adriana
,
“
but
our
guardian
is
picking
some
wild
flowers
for
us
,
which
we
fancied
.
I
think
it
is
time
to
return
.
You
are
going
to
Hainault
,
I
believe
,
Colonel
Albert
,
so
we
can
all
walk
home
together
.
”
So
they
turned
,
and
Endymion
with
his
graceful
offering
in
a
moment
met
them
.
Full
of
his
successful
quest
,
he
offered
with
eager
triumph
the
flowers
to
Adriana
,
without
casting
a
glance
at
her
new
companion
.
“
Beautiful
!
”
exclaimed
Adriana
,
and
she
stopped
to
admire
and
arrange
them
.
“
See
,
dear
Myra
,
is
not
this
lovely
?
How
superior
to
anything
in
our
glass-houses
!
”
Myra
took
the
flower
and
examined
it
.
Colonel
Albert
,
who
was
silent
,
was
watching
all
this
time
Endymion
with
intentness
,
who
now
looked
up
and
encountered
the
gaze
of
the
new
comer
.
Their
eyes
met
,
their
countenances
were
agitated
,
they
seemed
perplexed
,
and
then
it
seemed
that
at
the
same
time
both
extended
their
hands
.
“
It
is
a
long
time
since
we
met
,
”
said
Colonel
Albert
,
and
he
retained
the
hand
of
Endymion
with
affection
.
But
Endymion
,
who
was
apparently
much
moved
,
said
nothing
,
or
rather
only
murmured
an
echo
to
the
remarks
of
his
new
friend
.
And
then
they
all
walked
on
,
but
Myra
fell
a
little
back
and
made
a
signal
to
Endymion
to
join
her
.
“
You
never
told
me
,
darling
,
that
you
knew
Colonel
Albert
.
”
“
Colonel
Albert
!
”
said
Endymion
,
looking
amazed
,
and
then
he
added
,
“
Who
is
Colonel
Albert
?
”
“
That
gentleman
before
us
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
That
is
the
Count
of
Otranto
,
whose
fag
I
was
at
Eton
.
”
“
The
Count
of
Otranto
!
”
CHAPTER
XXXV
Colonel
Albert
from
this
day
became
an
object
of
increased
and
deeper
interest
to
Myra
.
His
appearance
and
manners
had
always
been
attractive
,
and
the
mystery
connected
with
him
was
not
calculated
to
diminish
curiosity
in
his
conduct
or
fate
.
But
when
she
discovered
that
he
was
the
unseen
hero
of
her
childhood
,
the
being
who
had
been
kind
to
her
Endymion
in
what
she
had
ever
considered
the
severest
trial
of
her
brother’s
life
,
had
been
his
protector
from
those
who
would
have
oppressed
him
,
and
had
cherished
him
in
the
desolate
hour
of
his
delicate
and
tender
boyhood
,
her
heart
was
disturbed
.
How
often
had
they
talked
together
of
the
Count
of
Otranto
,
and
how
often
had
they
wondered
who
he
was
!
His
memory
had
been
a
delightful
mystery
to
them
in
their
Berkshire
solitude
,
and
Myra
recalled
with
a
secret
smile
the
numberless
and
ingenious
inquiries
by
which
she
had
endeavoured
to
elicit
from
her
brother
some
clue
as
to
his
friend
,
or
to
discover
some
detail
which
might
guide
her
to
a
conclusion
.
Endymion
had
known
nothing
,
and
was
clear
always
that
the
Count
of
Otranto
must
have
been
,
and
was
,
an
English
boy
.
And
now
the
Count
of
Otranto
called
himself
Colonel
Albert
,
and
though
he
persisted
in
speaking
English
,
had
admitted
to
Mrs.
Neuchatel
that
he
was
a
foreigner
.
Who
was
he
?
She
resolved
,
when
she
had
an
opportunity
,
to
speak
to
the
great
banker
on
the
subject
.
“
Do
you
know
,
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
”
she
said
,
“
that
Endymion
,
my
brother
,
was
at
school
with
Colonel
Albert
?
”
“
Ah
,
ah
!
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
But
when
he
was
at
school
he
had
another
name
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
Oh
,
oh
!
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
He
was
then
called
the
Count
of
Otranto
.
”
“
That
is
a
very
pretty
name
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
But
why
did
he
change
it
?
”
asked
Myra
.
“
The
great
world
often
change
their
names
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
It
is
only
poor
City
men
like
myself
who
are
always
called
Mr.
,
and
bear
the
same
name
as
their
fathers
.
”
“
But
when
a
person
is
called
a
count
when
he
is
a
boy
,
he
is
seldom
called
only
a
colonel
when
he
is
a
man
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
There
is
a
great
mystery
in
all
this
.
”
“
I
should
not
be
surprised
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
“
if
he
were
to
change
his
name
again
before
this
time
year
.
”
“
Why
?
”
asked
Myra
.
“
Well
,
when
I
have
read
all
his
papers
in
Bishopsgate
Street
,
perhaps
I
shall
be
able
to
tell
you
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
and
Myra
felt
that
she
could
pursue
the
theme
no
further
.
She
expected
that
Endymion
would
in
time
be
able
to
obtain
this
information
,
but
it
was
not
so
.
In
their
first
private
conversation
after
their
meeting
in
the
forest
,
Endymion
had
informed
Colonel
Albert
that
,
though
they
had
met
now
for
the
first
time
since
his
return
,
they
had
been
for
some
time
lodgers
in
London
under
the
same
roof
.
Colonel
Albert
smiled
when
Endymion
told
him
this
;
then
falling
into
thought
,
he
said
;
“
I
hope
we
may
often
meet
,
but
for
the
moment
it
may
be
as
well
that
the
past
should
be
known
only
to
ourselves
.
I
wish
my
life
for
the
present
to
be
as
private
as
I
can
arrange
it
.
There
is
no
reason
why
we
should
not
be
sometimes
together
—
that
is
,
when
you
have
leisure
.
I
had
the
pleasure
of
making
your
acquaintance
at
my
banker’s
.
”
Parliament
had
been
dissolved
through
the
demise
of
the
crown
in
the
summer
of
this
year
(
1837
)
,
and
London
society
had
been
prematurely
broken
up
.
Waldershare
had
left
town
early
in
July
to
secure
his
election
,
in
which
he
was
successful
,
with
no
intention
of
settling
again
in
his
old
haunts
till
the
meeting
of
the
new
House
of
Commons
,
which
was
to
be
in
November
.
The
Rodneys
were
away
at
some
Kentish
watering-place
during
August
and
September
,
exhibiting
to
an
admiring
world
their
exquisitely
made
dresses
,
and
enjoying
themselves
amazingly
at
balls
and
assemblies
at
the
public
rooms
.
The
resources
of
private
society
also
were
not
closed
to
them
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Gamme
were
also
there
and
gave
immense
dinners
,
and
the
airy
Mrs.
Hooghley
,
who
laughed
a
little
at
the
Gammes’
substantial
gatherings
and
herself
improvised
charming
pic-nics
.
So
there
was
really
little
embarrassment
in
the
social
relations
between
Colonel
Albert
and
Endymion
.
They
resolved
themselves
chiefly
into
arranging
joint
expeditions
to
Hainault
.
Endymion
had
a
perpetual
invitation
there
,
and
it
seemed
that
the
transactions
between
Mr.
Neuchatel
and
the
colonel
required
much
conference
,
for
the
banker
always
expected
him
,
although
it
was
well
known
that
they
met
not
unfrequently
in
Bishopsgate
Street
in
the
course
of
the
week
.
Colonel
Albert
and
Endymion
always
stayed
at
Hainault
from
Saturday
till
Monday
.
It
delighted
the
colonel
to
mount
Endymion
on
one
of
his
choice
steeds
,
and
his
former
fag
enjoyed
all
this
amazingly
.
Colonel
Albert
became
domiciled
at
Hainault
.
The
rooms
which
were
occupied
by
him
when
there
were
always
reserved
for
him
.
He
had
a
general
invitation
,
and
might
leave
his
luggage
and
books
and
papers
behind
him
.
It
was
evident
that
the
family
pleased
him
.
Between
Mr.
Neuchatel
and
himself
there
were
obviously
affairs
of
great
interest
;
but
it
was
equally
clear
that
he
liked
the
female
members
of
the
family
—
all
of
them
;
and
all
liked
him
.
And
yet
it
cannot
be
said
that
he
was
entertaining
,
but
there
are
some
silent
people
who
are
more
interesting
than
the
best
talkers
.
And
when
he
did
speak
he
always
said
the
right
thing
.
His
manners
were
tender
and
gentle
;
he
had
an
unobtrusive
sympathy
with
all
they
said
or
did
,
except
,
indeed
,
and
that
was
not
rarely
,
when
he
was
lost
in
profound
abstraction
.
“
I
delight
in
your
friend
the
colonel
,
Adrian
,
”
said
Mrs.
Neuchatel
,
“
but
I
must
say
he
is
very
absent
.
”
“
He
has
a
good
deal
to
think
about
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
I
wonder
what
it
can
be
,
”
thought
Myra
.
“
He
has
a
claim
to
a
great
estate
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
“
and
he
has
to
think
of
the
best
mode
of
establishing
it
;
and
he
has
been
deprived
of
great
honours
,
and
he
believes
unjustly
,
and
he
wishes
to
regain
them
.
”
“
No
wonder
,
then
,
he
is
absent
,
”
said
Mrs.
Neuchatel
.
“
If
he
only
knew
what
a
burthen
great
wealth
is
,
I
am
sure
he
would
not
wish
to
possess
it
,
and
as
for
honours
I
never
could
make
out
why
having
a
title
or
a
ribbon
could
make
any
difference
in
a
human
being
.
”
“
Nonsense
,
my
dear
Emily
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
Great
wealth
is
a
blessing
to
a
man
who
knows
what
to
do
with
it
,
and
as
for
honours
,
they
are
inestimable
to
the
honourable
.
”
“
Well
,
I
ardently
hope
Colonel
Albert
may
succeed
,
”
said
Myra
,
“
because
he
was
so
kind
to
my
brother
at
Eton
.
He
must
have
a
good
heart
.
”
“
They
say
he
is
the
most
unscrupulous
of
living
men
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
with
his
peculiar
smile
.
“
Good
heavens
!
”
exclaimed
Mrs.
Neuchatel
.
“
How
terrible
!
”
said
Adriana
.
“
It
cannot
be
true
.
”
“
Perhaps
he
is
the
most
determined
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
Moral
courage
is
the
rarest
of
qualities
,
and
often
maligned
.
”
“
Well
,
he
has
got
a
champion
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
“
I
ardently
wish
him
success
,
”
said
Myra
,
“
in
all
his
undertakings
.
I
only
wish
I
knew
what
they
were
.
”
“
Has
not
he
told
your
brother
,
Miss
Ferrars
?
”
asked
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
with
laughing
eyes
.
“
He
never
speaks
of
himself
to
Endymion
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
He
speaks
a
good
deal
of
himself
to
me
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
;
“
and
he
is
going
to
bring
a
friend
here
to-morrow
who
knows
more
about
his
affairs
even
than
I
do
.
So
you
will
have
a
very
good
opportunity
,
Miss
Ferrars
,
of
making
yourself
acquainted
with
them
,
particularly
if
you
sit
next
to
him
at
dinner
,
and
are
very
winning
.
”
The
friend
of
Colonel
Albert
was
Baron
Sergius
,
the
baron
who
used
to
visit
him
in
London
at
twilight
in
a
dark
brougham
.
Mrs.
Neuchatel
was
greatly
taken
by
his
appearance
,
by
the
calmness
of
his
mien
,
his
unstudied
politeness
,
and
his
measured
voice
.
He
conversed
with
her
entirely
at
dinner
on
German
philosophy
,
of
which
he
seemed
a
complete
master
,
explained
to
her
the
different
schools
,
and
probably
the
successful
ones
,
and
imparted
to
her
that
precise
knowledge
which
she
required
on
the
subject
,
and
which
she
had
otherwise
been
unable
to
obtain
.
It
seemed
,
too
,
that
he
personally
knew
all
the
famous
professors
,
and
he
intimated
their
doctrines
not
only
with
profound
criticism
,
but
described
their
persons
and
habits
with
vividness
and
picturesque
power
,
never
,
however
,
all
this
time
,
by
any
chance
raising
his
voice
,
the
tones
of
which
were
ever
distinct
and
a
little
precise
.
“
Is
this
the
first
visit
of
your
friend
to
this
country
?
”
asked
Myra
of
Colonel
Albert
.
“
Oh
no
;
he
has
been
here
often
—
and
everywhere
,
”
added
Colonel
Albert
.
“
Everywhere
!
he
must
be
a
most
interesting
companion
then
.
”
“
I
find
him
so
:
I
never
knew
any
one
whom
I
thought
equal
to
him
.
But
perhaps
I
am
not
an
impartial
judge
,
for
I
have
known
him
so
long
and
so
intimately
.
In
fact
,
I
had
never
been
out
of
his
sight
till
I
was
brought
over
to
this
country
to
be
placed
at
Eton
.
He
is
the
counsellor
of
our
family
,
and
we
all
of
us
have
ever
agreed
that
if
his
advice
had
been
always
followed
we
should
never
have
had
a
calamity
.
”
“
Indeed
,
a
gifted
person
!
Is
he
a
soldier
?
”
“
No
;
Baron
Sergius
has
not
followed
the
profession
of
arms
.
”
“
He
looks
a
diplomatist
.
”
“
Well
,
he
is
now
nothing
but
my
friend
,
”
said
the
colonel
.
“
He
might
have
been
anything
,
but
he
is
a
peculiarly
domestic
character
,
and
is
devoted
to
private
life
.
”
“
You
are
fortunate
in
such
a
friend
.
”
“
Well
,
I
am
glad
to
be
fortunate
in
something
,
”
said
Colonel
Albert
.
“
And
are
you
not
fortunate
in
everything
?
”
“
I
have
not
that
reputation
;
but
I
shall
be
more
than
fortunate
if
I
have
your
kind
wishes
.
”
“
Those
you
have
,
”
said
Myra
,
rather
eagerly
.
“
My
brother
taught
me
,
even
as
a
child
,
to
wish
nothing
but
good
for
you
.
I
wish
I
knew
only
what
I
was
to
wish
for
.
”
“
Wish
that
my
plans
may
succeed
,
”
said
Colonel
Albert
,
looking
round
to
her
with
interest
.
“
I
will
more
than
wish
,
”
said
Myra
;
“
I
will
believe
that
they
will
succeed
,
because
I
think
you
have
resolved
to
succeed
.
”
“
I
shall
tell
Endymion
when
I
see
him
,
”
said
Colonel
Albert
,
“
that
his
sister
is
the
only
person
who
has
read
my
character
.
”
CHAPTER
XXXVI
Colonel
Albert
and
Baron
Sergius
drove
up
in
their
landau
from
Hainault
while
Endymion
was
at
the
door
in
Warwick
Street
,
returning
home
.
The
colonel
saluted
him
cordially
,
and
said
,
“
The
baron
is
going
to
take
a
cup
of
coffee
with
me
;
join
us
.
”
So
they
went
upstairs
.
There
was
a
packet
on
the
table
,
which
seemed
to
catch
the
colonel’s
eye
immediately
,
and
he
at
once
opened
it
with
eagerness
.
It
contained
many
foreign
newspapers
.
Without
waiting
for
the
servant
who
was
about
to
bring
candles
,
the
colonel
lighted
a
taper
on
the
table
with
a
lucifer
,
and
then
withdrew
into
the
adjoining
chamber
,
opening
,
however
,
with
folding
doors
to
the
principal
and
spacious
apartment
.
“
A
foreign
newspaper
always
interests
our
friend
,
”
said
the
baron
,
taking
his
coffee
.
“
Well
,
it
must
always
be
interesting
to
have
news
from
home
,
I
suppose
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
Home
!
”
said
the
baron
.
“
News
is
always
interesting
,
whether
it
come
from
home
or
not
.
”
“
To
public
men
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
To
all
men
if
they
be
wise
,
”
said
the
baron
;
“
as
a
general
rule
,
the
most
successful
man
in
life
is
the
man
who
has
the
best
information
.
”
“
But
what
a
rare
thing
is
success
in
life
!
”
said
Endymion
.
“
I
often
wonder
whether
I
shall
ever
be
able
to
step
out
of
the
crowd
.
”
“
You
may
have
success
in
life
without
stepping
out
of
the
crowd
,
”
said
the
baron
.
“
A
sort
of
success
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
I
know
what
you
mean
.
But
what
I
mean
is
real
success
in
life
.
I
mean
,
I
should
like
to
be
a
public
man
.
”
“
Why
?
”
asked
the
baron
.
“
Well
,
I
should
like
to
have
power
,
”
said
Endymion
,
blushing
.
“
The
most
powerful
men
are
not
public
men
,
”
said
the
baron
.
“
A
public
man
is
responsible
,
and
a
responsible
man
is
a
slave
.
It
is
private
life
that
governs
the
world
.
You
will
find
this
out
some
day
.
The
world
talks
much
of
powerful
sovereigns
and
great
ministers
;
and
if
being
talked
about
made
one
powerful
,
they
would
be
irresistible
.
But
the
fact
is
,
the
more
you
are
talked
about
the
less
powerful
you
are
.
”
“
But
surely
King
Luitbrand
is
a
powerful
monarch
;
they
say
he
is
the
wisest
of
men
.
And
the
Emperor
Harold
,
who
has
succeeded
in
everything
.
And
as
for
ministers
,
who
is
a
great
man
if
it
be
not
Prince
Wenceslaus
?
”
“
King
Luitbrand
is
governed
by
his
doctor
,
who
is
capable
of
governing
Europe
,
but
has
no
ambition
that
way
;
the
Emperor
Harold
is
directed
by
his
mistress
,
who
is
a
woman
of
a
certain
age
with
a
vast
sagacity
,
but
who
also
believes
in
sorcery
;
and
as
for
Prince
Wenceslaus
,
he
is
inspired
by
an
individual
as
obscure
as
ourselves
,
and
who
,
for
aught
I
know
,
may
be
,
at
this
moment
,
like
ourselves
,
drinking
a
cup
of
coffee
in
a
hired
lodging
.
”
“
What
you
say
about
public
life
amazes
me
,
”
said
Endymion
musingly
.
“
Think
over
it
,
”
said
the
baron
.
“
As
an
Englishman
,
you
will
have
difficulty
in
avoiding
public
life
.
But
at
any
rate
do
not
at
present
be
discontented
that
you
are
unknown
.
It
is
the
first
condition
of
real
power
.
When
you
have
succeeded
in
life
according
to
your
views
,
and
I
am
inclined
to
believe
you
will
so
succeed
,
you
will
,
some
day
,
sigh
for
real
power
,
and
denounce
the
time
when
you
became
a
public
man
,
and
belonged
to
any
one
but
yourself
.
But
our
friend
calls
me
.
He
has
found
something
startling
.
I
will
venture
to
say
,
if
there
be
anything
in
it
,
it
has
been
brought
about
by
some
individual
of
whom
you
never
heard
.
”
VOL.
II
.
CHAPTER
XXXVII
With
the
assembling
of
parliament
in
November
recommenced
the
sittings
of
the
Union
Society
,
of
which
Endymion
had
for
some
time
been
a
member
,
and
of
whose
meetings
he
was
a
constant
and
critical
,
though
silent
,
attendant
.
There
was
a
debate
one
night
on
the
government
of
dependencies
,
which
,
although
all
reference
to
existing
political
circumstances
was
rigidly
prohibited
,
no
doubt
had
its
origin
in
the
critical
state
of
one
of
our
most
important
colonies
,
then
much
embarrassing
the
metropolis
.
The
subject
was
one
which
Endymion
had
considered
,
and
on
which
he
had
arrived
at
certain
conclusions
.
The
meeting
was
fully
attended
,
and
the
debate
had
been
conducted
with
a
gravity
becoming
the
theme
.
Endymion
was
sitting
on
a
back
bench
,
and
with
no
companion
near
him
with
whom
he
was
acquainted
,
when
he
rose
and
solicited
the
attention
of
the
president
.
Another
and
a
well-known
speaker
had
also
risen
,
and
been
called
,
but
there
was
a
cry
of
“
new
member
,
”
a
courteous
cry
,
borrowed
from
the
House
of
Commons
,
and
Endymion
for
the
first
time
heard
his
own
voice
in
public
.
He
has
since
admitted
,
though
he
has
been
through
many
trying
scenes
,
that
it
was
the
most
nervous
moment
of
his
life
.
“
After
Calais
,
”
as
a
wise
wit
said
,
“
nothing
surprises
;
”
and
the
first
time
a
man
speaks
in
public
,
even
if
only
at
a
debating
society
,
is
also
the
unequalled
incident
in
its
way
.
The
indulgence
of
the
audience
supported
him
while
the
mist
cleared
from
his
vision
,
and
his
palpitating
heart
subsided
into
comparative
tranquillity
.
After
a
few
pardonable
incoherencies
,
he
was
launched
into
his
subject
,
and
spoke
with
the
thoughtful
fluency
which
knowledge
alone
can
sustain
.
For
knowledge
is
the
foundation
of
eloquence
.
“
What
a
good-looking
young
fellow
!
”
whispered
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
to
his
brother
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
.
The
Bertie
Tremaines
were
the
two
greatest
swells
of
the
Union
,
and
had
a
party
of
their
own
.
“
And
he
speaks
well
.
”
“
Who
is
he
?
”
inquired
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
of
their
other
neighbour
.
“
He
is
a
clerk
in
the
Treasury
,
I
believe
,
or
something
of
that
sort
,
”
was
the
reply
.
“
I
never
saw
such
a
good-looking
young
fellow
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
“
He
is
worth
getting
hold
of
.
I
shall
ask
to
be
introduced
to
him
when
we
break
up
.
”
Accordingly
,
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
who
was
always
playing
at
politics
,
and
who
,
being
two-and-twenty
,
was
discontented
he
was
not
Chancellor
of
the
Exchequer
like
Mr.
Pitt
,
whispered
to
a
gentleman
who
sate
behind
him
,
and
was
,
in
short
,
the
whip
of
his
section
,
and
signified
,
as
a
minister
of
state
would
,
that
an
introduction
to
Mr.
Ferrars
should
be
arranged
.
So
when
the
meeting
broke
up
,
of
which
Mr.
Ferrars’
maiden
speech
was
quite
the
event
,
and
while
he
was
contemplating
,
not
without
some
fair
self-complacency
,
walking
home
with
Trenchard
,
Endymion
found
himself
encompassed
by
a
group
of
bowing
forms
and
smiling
countenances
,
and
,
almost
before
he
was
aware
of
it
,
had
made
the
acquaintance
of
the
great
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
and
received
not
only
the
congratulations
of
that
gentleman
,
but
an
invitation
to
dine
with
him
on
the
morrow
;
“
quite
sans
facon
.
”
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
who
had
early
succeeded
to
the
family
estate
,
lived
in
Grosvenor
Street
,
and
in
becoming
style
.
His
house
was
furnished
with
luxury
and
some
taste
.
The
host
received
his
guests
in
a
library
,
well
stored
with
political
history
and
political
science
,
and
adorned
with
the
busts
of
celebrated
statesmen
and
of
profound
political
sages
.
Bentham
was
the
philosopher
then
affected
by
young
gentleman
of
ambition
,
and
who
wished
to
have
credit
for
profundity
and
hard
heads
.
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
had
been
the
proprietor
of
a
close
borough
,
which
for
several
generations
had
returned
his
family
to
parliament
,
the
faithful
supporters
of
Pitt
,
and
Perceval
,
and
Liverpool
,
and
he
had
contemplated
following
the
same
line
,
though
with
larger
and
higher
objects
than
his
ancestors
.
Being
a
man
of
considerable
and
versatile
ability
,
and
of
ample
fortune
,
with
the
hereditary
opportunity
which
he
possessed
,
he
had
a
right
to
aspire
,
and
,
as
his
vanity
more
than
equalled
his
talents
,
his
estimate
of
his
own
career
was
not
mean
.
Unfortunately
,
before
he
left
Harrow
,
he
was
deprived
of
his
borough
,
and
this
catastrophe
eventually
occasioned
a
considerable
change
in
the
views
and
conduct
of
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
In
the
confusion
of
parties
and
political
thought
which
followed
the
Reform
Act
of
Lord
Grey
,
an
attempt
to
govern
the
country
by
the
assertion
of
abstract
principles
,
and
which
it
was
now
beginning
to
be
the
fashion
to
call
Liberalism
,
seemed
the
only
opening
to
public
life
;
and
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
who
piqued
himself
on
recognising
the
spirit
of
the
age
,
adopted
Liberal
opinions
with
that
youthful
fervour
which
is
sometimes
called
enthusiasm
,
but
which
is
a
heat
of
imagination
subsequently
discovered
to
be
inconsistent
with
the
experience
of
actual
life
.
At
Cambridge
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
was
at
first
the
solitary
pupil
of
Bentham
,
whose
principles
he
was
prepared
to
carry
to
their
extreme
consequences
,
but
being
a
man
of
energy
and
in
possession
of
a
good
estate
,
he
soon
found
followers
,
for
the
sympathies
of
youth
are
quick
,
and
,
even
with
an
original
bias
,
it
is
essentially
mimetic
.
When
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
left
the
university
he
found
in
the
miscellaneous
elements
of
the
London
Union
many
of
his
former
companions
of
school
and
college
,
and
from
them
,
and
the
new
world
to
which
he
was
introduced
,
it
delighted
him
to
form
parties
and
construct
imaginary
cabinets
.
His
brother
Augustus
,
who
was
his
junior
only
by
a
year
,
and
was
destined
to
be
a
diplomatist
,
was
an
efficient
assistant
in
these
enterprises
,
and
was
one
of
the
guests
who
greeted
Endymion
when
he
arrived
next
day
in
Grosvenor
Street
according
to
his
engagement
.
The
other
three
were
Hortensius
,
the
whip
of
the
party
,
and
Mr.
Trenchard
.
The
dinner
was
refined
,
for
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
combined
the
Sybarite
with
the
Utilitarian
sage
,
and
it
secretly
delighted
him
to
astonish
or
embarrass
an
austere
brother
republican
by
the
splendour
of
his
family
plate
or
the
polished
appointments
of
his
household
.
To-day
the
individual
to
be
influenced
was
Endymion
,
and
the
host
,
acting
up
to
his
ideal
of
a
first
minister
,
addressed
questions
to
his
companions
on
the
subjects
which
were
peculiarly
their
own
,
and
,
after
eliciting
their
remarks
,
continued
to
complete
the
treatment
of
the
theme
with
adequate
ability
,
though
in
a
manner
authoritative
,
and
,
as
Endymion
thought
,
a
little
pompous
.
What
amused
him
most
in
this
assemblage
of
youth
was
their
earnest
affectation
of
public
life
.
The
freedom
of
their
comments
on
others
was
only
equalled
by
their
confidence
in
themselves
.
Endymion
,
who
only
spoke
when
he
was
appealed
to
,
had
casually
remarked
in
answer
to
one
of
the
observations
which
his
host
with
elaborate
politeness
occasionally
addressed
to
him
,
that
he
thought
it
was
unpatriotic
to
take
a
certain
course
.
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
immediately
drew
up
,
and
said
,
with
a
deep
smile
,
“
that
he
comprehended
philanthropy
,
but
patriotism
he
confessed
he
did
not
understand
;
”
and
thereupon
delivered
himself
of
an
address
on
the
subject
which
might
have
been
made
in
the
Union
,
and
which
communicated
to
the
astonished
Endymion
that
patriotism
was
a
false
idea
,
and
entirely
repugnant
to
the
principles
of
the
new
philosophy
.
As
all
present
were
more
or
less
impregnated
with
these
tenets
,
there
was
no
controversy
on
the
matter
.
Endymion
remained
discreetly
silent
,
and
Augustus
—
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine’s
brother
—
who
sate
next
to
him
,
and
whose
manners
were
as
sympathising
as
his
brother’s
were
autocratic
,
whispered
in
a
wheedling
tone
that
it
was
quite
true
,
and
that
the
idea
of
patriotism
was
entirely
relinquished
except
by
a
few
old-fashioned
folks
who
clung
to
superstitious
phrases
.
Hortensius
,
who
seemed
to
be
the
only
one
of
the
company
who
presumed
to
meet
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
in
conversation
on
equal
terms
,
and
who
had
already
astonished
Endymion
by
what
that
inexperienced
youth
deemed
the
extreme
laxity
of
his
views
,
both
social
and
political
,
evinced
,
more
than
once
,
a
disposition
to
deviate
into
the
lighter
topics
of
feminine
character
,
and
even
the
fortunes
of
the
hazard-table
;
but
the
host
looked
severe
,
and
was
evidently
resolved
that
the
conversation
to-day
should
resemble
the
expression
of
his
countenance
.
After
dinner
they
returned
to
the
library
,
and
most
of
them
smoked
,
but
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
inviting
Endymion
to
seat
himself
by
his
side
on
a
sofa
at
the
farther
end
of
the
room
,
observed
,
“
I
suppose
you
are
looking
to
parliament
?
”
“
Well
,
I
do
not
know
,
”
said
the
somewhat
startled
Endymion
;
“
I
have
not
thought
much
about
it
,
and
I
have
not
yet
reached
a
parliamentary
age
.
”
“
A
man
cannot
enter
parliament
too
soon
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
;
“
I
hope
to
enter
this
session
.
There
will
be
a
certain
vacancy
on
a
petition
,
and
I
have
arranged
to
have
the
seat
.
”
“
Indeed
!
”
said
Endymion
.
“
My
father
was
in
parliament
,
and
so
was
my
grandfather
,
but
I
confess
I
do
not
very
well
see
my
way
there
.
”
“
You
must
connect
yourself
with
a
party
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
“
and
you
will
soon
enter
;
and
being
young
,
you
should
connect
yourself
with
the
party
of
the
future
.
The
country
is
wearied
with
the
present
men
,
who
have
no
philosophical
foundation
,
and
are
therefore
perpetually
puzzled
and
inconsistent
,
and
the
country
will
not
stand
the
old
men
,
as
it
is
resolved
against
retrogression
.
The
party
of
the
future
and
of
the
speedy
future
has
its
headquarters
under
this
roof
,
and
I
should
like
to
see
you
belong
to
it
.
”
“
You
are
too
kind
,
”
murmured
Endymion
.
“
Yes
,
I
see
in
you
the
qualities
adapted
to
public
life
,
and
which
may
be
turned
to
great
account
.
I
must
get
you
into
parliament
as
soon
as
you
are
eligible
,
”
continued
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
in
a
musing
tone
.
“
This
death
of
the
King
was
very
inopportune
.
If
he
had
reigned
a
couple
of
years
more
,
I
saw
my
way
to
half
a
dozen
seats
,
and
I
could
have
arranged
with
Lord
Durham
.
”
“
That
was
unfortunate
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
What
do
you
think
of
Hortensius
?
”
inquired
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
“
I
think
him
the
most
brilliant
speaker
I
know
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
I
never
met
him
in
private
society
before
;
he
talks
well
.
”
“
He
wants
conduct
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
“
He
ought
to
be
my
Lord
Chancellor
,
but
there
is
a
tone
of
levity
about
him
which
is
unfortunate
.
Men
destined
to
the
highest
places
should
beware
of
badinage
.
”
“
I
believe
it
is
a
dangerous
weapon
.
”
“
All
lawyers
are
loose
in
their
youth
,
but
an
insular
country
subject
to
fogs
,
and
with
a
powerful
middle
class
,
requires
grave
statesmen
.
I
attribute
a
great
deal
of
the
nonsense
called
Conservative
Reaction
to
Peel’s
solemnity
.
The
proper
minister
for
England
at
this
moment
would
be
Pitt
.
Extreme
youth
gives
hope
to
a
country
;
coupled
with
ceremonious
manners
,
hope
soon
assumes
the
form
of
confidence
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
murmured
Endymion
.
“
I
had
half
a
mind
to
ask
Jawett
to
dinner
to-day
.
His
powers
are
unquestionable
,
but
he
is
not
a
practical
man
.
For
instance
,
I
think
myself
our
colonial
empire
is
a
mistake
,
and
that
we
should
disembarrass
ourselves
of
its
burthen
as
rapidly
as
is
consistent
with
the
dignity
of
the
nation
;
but
were
Jawett
in
the
House
of
Commons
to-morrow
,
nothing
would
satisfy
him
but
a
resolution
for
the
total
and
immediate
abolition
of
the
empire
,
with
a
preamble
denouncing
the
folly
of
our
fathers
in
creating
it
.
Jawett
never
spares
any
one’s
self-love
.
”
“
I
know
him
very
well
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
he
is
in
my
office
.
He
is
very
uncompromising
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
musingly
;
“
if
I
had
to
form
a
government
,
I
could
hardly
offer
him
the
cabinet
.
”
Then
speaking
more
rapidly
,
he
added
,
“
The
man
you
should
attach
yourself
to
is
my
brother
Augustus
—
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
.
There
is
no
man
who
understands
foreign
politics
like
Augustus
,
and
he
is
a
thorough
man
of
the
world
.
”
CHAPTER
XXXVIII
When
parliament
reassembled
in
February
,
the
Neuchatels
quitted
Hainault
for
their
London
residence
in
Portland
Place
.
Mrs.
Neuchatel
was
sadly
troubled
at
leaving
her
country
home
,
which
,
notwithstanding
its
distressing
splendour
,
had
still
some
forms
of
compensatory
innocence
in
its
flowers
and
sylvan
glades
.
Adriana
sighed
when
she
called
to
mind
the
manifold
and
mortifying
snares
and
pitfalls
that
awaited
her
,
and
had
even
framed
a
highly
practical
and
sensible
scheme
which
would
permit
her
parents
to
settle
in
town
and
allow
Myra
and
herself
to
remain
permanently
in
the
country
;
but
Myra
brushed
away
the
project
like
a
fly
,
and
Adriana
yielding
,
embraced
her
with
tearful
eyes
.
The
Neuchatel
mansion
in
Portland
Place
was
one
of
the
noblest
in
that
comely
quarter
of
the
town
,
and
replete
with
every
charm
and
convenience
that
wealth
and
taste
could
provide
.
Myra
,
who
,
like
her
brother
,
had
a
tenacious
memory
,
was
interested
in
recalling
as
fully
and
as
accurately
as
possible
her
previous
experience
of
London
life
.
She
was
then
indeed
only
a
child
,
but
a
child
who
was
often
admitted
to
brilliant
circles
,
and
had
enjoyed
opportunities
of
social
observation
which
the
very
youthful
seldom
possess
.
Her
retrospection
was
not
as
profitable
as
she
could
have
desired
,
and
she
was
astonished
,
after
a
severe
analysis
of
the
past
,
to
find
how
entirely
at
that
early
age
she
appeared
to
have
been
engrossed
with
herself
and
with
Endymion
.
Hill
Street
and
Wimbledon
,
and
all
their
various
life
,
figured
as
shadowy
scenes
;
she
could
realise
nothing
very
definite
for
her
present
guidance
;
the
past
seemed
a
phantom
of
fine
dresses
,
and
bright
equipages
,
and
endless
indulgence
.
All
that
had
happened
after
their
fall
was
distinct
and
full
of
meaning
.
It
would
seem
that
adversity
had
taught
Myra
to
feel
and
think
.
Forty
years
ago
the
great
financiers
had
not
that
commanding
,
not
to
say
predominant
,
position
in
society
which
they
possess
at
present
,
but
the
Neuchatels
were
an
exception
to
this
general
condition
.
They
were
a
family
which
not
only
had
the
art
of
accumulating
wealth
,
but
of
expending
it
with
taste
and
generosity
—
an
extremely
rare
combination
.
Their
great
riches
,
their
political
influence
,
their
high
integrity
and
their
social
accomplishments
,
combined
to
render
their
house
not
only
splendid
,
but
interesting
and
agreeable
,
and
gave
them
a
great
hold
upon
the
world
.
At
first
the
fine
ladies
of
their
political
party
called
on
them
as
a
homage
of
condescending
gratitude
for
the
public
support
which
the
Neuchatel
family
gave
to
their
sons
and
husbands
,
but
they
soon
discovered
that
this
amiable
descent
from
their
Olympian
heights
on
their
part
did
not
amount
exactly
to
the
sacrifice
or
service
which
they
had
contemplated
.
They
found
their
host
as
refined
as
themselves
,
and
much
more
magnificent
,
and
in
a
very
short
time
it
was
not
merely
the
wives
of
ambassadors
and
ministers
of
state
that
were
found
at
the
garden
fetes
of
Hainault
,
or
the
balls
,
and
banquets
,
and
concerts
of
Portland
Place
,
but
the
fitful
and
capricious
realm
of
fashion
surrendered
like
a
fair
country
conquered
as
it
were
by
surprise
.
To
visit
the
Neuchatels
became
the
mode
;
all
solicited
to
be
their
guests
,
and
some
solicited
in
vain
.
Although
it
was
only
February
,
the
world
began
to
move
,
and
some
of
the
ministers’
wives
,
who
were
socially
strong
enough
to
venture
on
such
a
step
,
received
their
friends
.
Mr.
Neuchatel
particularly
liked
this
form
of
society
.
“
I
cannot
manage
balls
,
”
he
used
to
say
,
“
but
I
like
a
ministerial
reception
.
There
is
some
chance
of
sensible
conversation
and
doing
a
little
business
.
I
like
talking
with
ambassadors
after
dinner
.
Besides
,
in
this
country
you
meet
the
leaders
of
the
opposition
,
because
,
as
they
are
not
invited
by
the
minister
,
but
by
his
wife
,
anybody
can
come
without
committing
himself
.
”
Myra
,
faithful
to
her
original
resolution
,
not
to
enter
society
while
she
was
in
mourning
,
declined
all
the
solicitudes
of
her
friends
to
accompany
them
to
these
assemblies
.
Mrs.
Neuchatel
always
wished
Myra
should
be
her
substitute
,
and
it
was
only
at
Myra’s
instance
that
Adriana
accompanied
her
parents
.
In
the
meantime
,
Myra
saw
much
of
Endymion
.
He
was
always
a
welcome
guest
by
the
family
,
and
could
call
upon
his
sister
at
all
the
odds
and
ends
of
time
that
were
at
his
command
,
and
chat
with
her
at
pleasant
ease
in
her
pretty
room
.
Sometimes
they
walked
out
together
,
and
sometimes
they
went
together
to
see
some
exhibition
that
everybody
went
to
see
.
Adriana
became
almost
as
intimate
with
Endymion
as
his
sister
,
and
altogether
the
Neuchatel
family
became
by
degrees
to
him
as
a
kind
of
home
.
Talking
with
Endymion
,
Myra
heard
a
good
deal
of
Colonel
Albert
,
for
he
was
her
brother’s
hero
—
but
she
rarely
saw
that
gentleman
.
She
was
aware
from
her
brother
,
and
from
some
occasional
words
of
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
that
the
great
banker
still
saw
Colonel
Albert
and
not
unfrequently
,
but
the
change
of
residence
from
Hainault
to
London
made
a
difference
in
their
mode
of
communication
.
Business
was
transacted
in
Bishopsgate
Street
,
and
no
longer
combined
with
a
pleasant
ride
to
an
Essex
forest
.
More
than
once
Colonel
Albert
had
dined
in
Portland
Place
,
but
at
irregular
and
miscellaneous
parties
.
Myra
observed
that
he
was
never
asked
to
meet
the
grand
personages
who
attended
the
celebrated
banquets
of
Mr.
Neuchatel
.
And
why
not
?
His
manners
were
distinguished
,
but
his
whole
bearing
that
of
one
accustomed
to
consideration
.
The
irrepressible
curiosity
of
woman
impelled
her
once
to
feel
her
way
on
the
subject
with
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
but
with
the
utmost
dexterity
and
delicacy
.
“
No
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
with
a
laughing
eye
,
and
who
saw
through
everybody’s
purpose
,
though
his
own
manner
was
one
of
simplicity
amounting
almost
to
innocence
,
“
I
did
not
say
Colonel
Albert
was
going
to
dine
here
on
Wednesday
;
I
have
asked
him
to
dine
here
on
Sunday
.
On
Wednesday
I
am
going
to
have
the
premier
and
some
of
his
colleagues
.
I
must
insist
upon
Miss
Ferrars
dining
at
table
.
You
will
meet
Lord
Roehampton
;
all
the
ladies
admire
him
and
he
admires
all
the
ladies
.
It
will
not
do
to
ask
Colonel
Albert
to
meet
such
a
party
,
though
perhaps
,
”
added
Mr.
Neuchatel
with
a
merry
smile
,
“
some
day
they
may
be
asked
to
meet
Colonel
Albert
.
Who
knows
,
Miss
Ferrars
?
The
wheel
of
Fortune
turns
round
very
strangely
.
”
“
And
who
then
is
Colonel
Albert
?
”
asked
Myra
with
decision
.
“
Colonel
Albert
is
Colonel
Albert
,
and
nobody
else
,
so
far
as
I
know
,
”
replied
Mr.
Neuchatel
;
“
he
has
brought
a
letter
of
credit
on
my
house
in
that
name
,
and
I
am
happy
to
honour
his
drafts
to
the
amount
in
question
,
and
as
he
is
a
foreigner
,
I
think
it
is
but
kind
and
courteous
occasionally
to
ask
him
to
dinner
.
”
Miss
Ferrars
did
not
pursue
the
inquiry
,
for
she
was
sufficiently
acquainted
with
Mr.
Neuchatel
to
feel
that
he
did
not
intend
to
gratify
her
curiosity
.
The
banquet
of
the
Neuchatels
to
the
premier
,
and
some
of
the
principal
ambassadors
and
their
wives
,
and
to
those
of
the
premier’s
colleagues
who
were
fashionable
enough
to
be
asked
,
and
to
some
of
the
dukes
and
duchesses
and
other
ethereal
beings
who
supported
the
ministry
,
was
the
first
event
of
the
season
.
The
table
blazed
with
rare
flowers
and
rarer
porcelain
and
precious
candelabra
of
sculptured
beauty
glittering
with
light
;
the
gold
plate
was
less
remarkable
than
the
delicate
ware
that
had
been
alike
moulded
and
adorned
for
a
Du
Barri
or
a
Marie
Antoinette
,
and
which
now
found
a
permanent
and
peaceful
home
in
the
proverbial
land
of
purity
and
order
;
and
amid
the
stars
and
ribbons
,
not
the
least
remarkable
feature
of
the
whole
was
Mr.
Neuchatel
himself
,
seated
at
the
centre
of
his
table
,
alike
free
from
ostentation
or
over-deference
,
talking
to
the
great
ladies
on
each
side
of
him
,
as
if
he
had
nothing
to
do
in
life
but
whisper
in
gentle
ears
,
and
partaking
of
his
own
dainties
as
if
he
were
eating
bread
and
cheese
at
a
country
inn
.
Perhaps
Mrs.
Neuchatel
might
have
afforded
a
companion
picture
.
Partly
in
deference
to
their
host
,
and
partly
because
this
evening
the
first
dance
of
the
season
was
to
be
given
,
the
great
ladies
in
general
wore
their
diamonds
,
and
Myra
was
amused
as
she
watched
their
dazzling
tiaras
and
flashing
rivieres
,
while
not
a
single
ornament
adorned
the
graceful
presence
of
their
hostess
,
who
was
more
content
to
be
brilliant
only
by
her
conversation
.
As
Mr.
Neuchatel
had
only
a
few
days
before
presented
his
wife
with
another
diamond
necklace
,
he
might
be
excused
were
he
slightly
annoyed
.
Nothing
of
the
sort
;
he
only
shrugged
his
shoulders
,
and
said
to
his
nephew
,
“
Your
aunt
must
feel
that
I
give
her
diamonds
from
love
and
not
from
vanity
,
as
she
never
lets
me
have
the
pleasure
of
seeing
them
.
”
The
sole
ornament
of
Adriana
was
an
orchid
,
which
had
arrived
that
morning
from
Hainault
,
and
she
had
presented
its
fellow
to
Myra
.
There
was
one
lady
who
much
attracted
the
attention
of
Myra
,
interested
in
all
she
observed
.
This
lady
was
evidently
a
person
of
importance
,
for
she
sate
between
an
ambassador
and
a
knight
of
the
garter
,
and
they
vied
in
homage
to
her
.
They
watched
her
every
word
,
and
seemed
delighted
with
all
she
said
.
Without
being
strictly
beautiful
,
there
was
an
expression
of
sweet
animation
in
her
physiognomy
which
was
highly
attractive
:
her
eye
was
full
of
summer
lightning
,
and
there
was
an
arch
dimple
in
her
smile
,
which
seemed
to
irradiate
her
whole
countenance
.
She
was
quite
a
young
woman
,
hardly
older
than
Myra
.
What
most
distinguished
her
was
the
harmony
of
her
whole
person
;
her
graceful
figure
,
her
fair
and
finely
moulded
shoulders
,
her
pretty
teeth
,
and
her
small
extremities
,
seemed
to
blend
with
and
become
the
soft
vivacity
of
her
winning
glance
.
“
Lady
Montfort
looks
well
to-night
,
”
said
the
neighbour
of
Myra
.
“
And
