Andso
am
I
.
If
I
ever
am
to
work
,
I
would
sooner
be
a
civil
engineer
than
a
prime
minister
.
”
Nothing
but
the
indomitable
spirit
of
Lady
Montfort
could
fight
successfully
against
such
obstacles
to
her
schemes
of
power
as
were
presented
by
the
peculiar
disposition
of
her
lord
.
Her
receptions
every
Saturday
night
during
the
season
were
the
most
important
of
social
gatherings
,
but
she
held
them
alone
.
It
was
by
consummate
skill
that
she
had
prevailed
upon
her
lord
occasionally
appearing
at
the
preceding
banquets
,
and
when
they
were
over
,
he
flitted
for
an
instant
and
disappeared
.
At
first
,
he
altogether
refused
,
but
then
Lady
Montfort
would
introduce
Royalty
,
always
kind
,
to
condescend
to
express
a
wish
to
dine
at
Montfort
House
,
and
that
was
a
gracious
intimation
it
was
impossible
not
to
act
upon
,
and
then
,
as
Lady
Montfort
would
say
,
“
I
trust
much
to
the
periodical
visits
of
that
dear
Queen
of
Mesopotamia
.
He
must
entertain
her
,
for
his
father
was
her
lover
.
”
In
this
wonderful
mystification
,
by
which
Lord
Montfort
was
made
to
appear
as
living
in
a
society
which
he
scarcely
ever
entered
,
his
wife
was
a
little
assisted
by
his
visits
to
Newmarket
,
which
he
even
frequently
attended
.
He
never
made
a
bet
or
a
new
acquaintance
,
but
he
seemed
to
like
meeting
men
with
whom
he
had
been
at
school
.
There
is
certainly
a
magic
in
the
memory
of
school-boy
friendships
;
it
softens
the
heart
,
and
even
affects
the
nervous
system
of
those
who
have
no
hearts
.
Lord
Montfort
at
Newmarket
would
ask
half
a
dozen
men
who
had
been
at
school
with
him
,
and
were
now
members
of
the
Jockey
Club
,
to
be
his
guests
,
and
the
next
day
all
over
the
heath
,
and
after
the
heath
,
all
over
Mayfair
and
Belgravia
,
you
heard
only
one
speech
,
“
I
dined
yesterday
,
”
or
“
the
other
day
,
”
as
the
case
might
be
,
“
with
Montfort
;
out
and
out
the
best
dinner
I
ever
had
,
and
such
an
agreeable
fellow
;
the
wittiest
,
the
most
amusing
,
certainly
the
most
charming
fellow
that
ever
lived
;
out
and
out
!
It
is
a
pity
he
does
not
show
a
little
more
.
”
And
society
thought
the
same
;
they
thought
it
a
pity
,
and
a
great
one
,
that
this
fascinating
being
of
whom
they
rarely
caught
a
glimpse
,
and
who
to
them
took
the
form
of
a
wasted
and
unsympathising
phantom
,
should
not
show
a
little
more
and
delight
them
.
But
the
most
curious
thing
was
,
that
however
rapturous
were
his
guests
,
the
feelings
of
their
host
after
they
had
left
him
,
were
by
no
means
reciprocal
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
would
remark
to
himself
,
“
Have
I
heard
a
single
thing
worth
remembering
?
Not
one
.
”
CHAPTER
LIII
Endymion
was
a
little
agitated
when
he
arrived
at
the
door
of
Montfort
House
,
a
huge
family
mansion
,
situate
in
a
court-yard
and
looking
into
the
Green
Park
.
When
the
door
was
opened
he
found
himself
in
a
large
hall
with
many
servants
,
and
he
was
ushered
through
several
rooms
on
the
ground
floor
,
into
a
capacious
chamber
dimly
lighted
,
where
there
were
several
gentlemen
,
but
not
his
hostess
.
His
name
was
announced
,
and
then
a
young
man
came
up
to
him
and
mentioned
that
Lord
and
Lady
Montfort
would
soon
be
present
,
and
then
talked
to
him
about
the
weather
.
The
Count
of
Ferroll
arrived
after
Endymion
,
and
then
another
gentleman
whose
name
he
could
not
catch
.
Then
while
he
was
making
some
original
observations
on
the
east
wind
,
and
,
to
confess
the
truth
,
feeling
anything
but
at
his
ease
,
the
folding
doors
of
a
further
chamber
brilliantly
lighted
were
thrown
open
,
and
almost
at
the
same
moment
Lady
Montfort
entered
,
and
,
taking
the
Count
of
Ferroll’s
arm
,
walked
into
the
dining-room
.
It
was
a
round
table
,
and
Endymion
was
told
by
the
same
gentleman
who
had
already
addressed
him
,
that
he
was
to
sit
by
Lady
Montfort
.
“
Lord
Montfort
is
a
little
late
to-day
,
”
she
said
,
“
but
he
wished
me
not
to
wait
for
him
.
And
how
are
you
after
our
parliamentary
banquet
?
”
she
said
,
turning
to
Endymion
;
“
I
will
introduce
you
to
the
Count
of
Ferroll
.
”
The
Count
of
Ferroll
was
a
young
man
,
and
yet
inclined
to
be
bald
.
He
was
chief
of
a
not
inconsiderable
mission
at
our
court
.
Though
not
to
be
described
as
a
handsome
man
,
his
countenance
was
striking
;
a
brow
of
much
intellectual
development
,
and
a
massive
jaw
.
He
was
tall
,
broad-shouldered
,
with
a
slender
waist
.
He
greeted
Endymion
with
a
penetrating
glance
,
and
then
with
a
winning
smile
.
The
Count
of
Ferroll
was
the
representative
of
a
kingdom
which
,
if
not
exactly
created
,
had
been
moulded
into
a
certain
form
of
apparent
strength
and
importance
by
the
Congress
of
Vienna
.
He
was
a
noble
of
considerable
estate
in
a
country
where
possessions
were
not
extensive
or
fortunes
large
,
though
it
was
ruled
by
an
ancient
,
and
haughty
,
and
warlike
aristocracy
.
Like
his
class
,
the
Count
of
Ferroll
had
received
a
military
education
;
but
when
that
education
was
completed
,
he
found
but
a
feeble
prospect
of
his
acquirements
being
called
into
action
.
It
was
believed
that
the
age
of
great
wars
had
ceased
,
and
that
even
revolutions
were
for
the
future
to
be
controlled
by
diplomacy
.
As
he
was
a
man
of
an
original
,
not
to
say
eccentric
,
turn
of
mind
,
the
Count
of
Ferroll
was
not
contented
with
the
resources
and
distraction
of
his
second-rate
capital
.
He
was
an
eminent
sportsman
,
and
,
for
some
time
,
took
refuge
and
found
excitement
in
the
breadth
of
his
dark
forests
,
and
in
the
formation
of
a
stud
,
which
had
already
become
celebrated
.
But
all
this
time
,
even
in
the
excitement
of
the
chase
,
and
in
the
raising
of
his
rare-breed
steeds
,
the
Count
of
Ferroll
might
be
said
to
have
been
brooding
over
the
position
of
what
he
could
scarcely
call
his
country
,
but
rather
an
aggregation
of
lands
baptized
by
protocols
,
and
christened
and
consolidated
by
treaties
which
he
looked
upon
as
eminently
untrustworthy
.
One
day
he
surprised
his
sovereign
,
with
whom
he
was
a
favourite
,
by
requesting
to
be
appointed
to
the
legation
at
London
,
which
was
vacant
.
The
appointment
was
at
once
made
,
and
the
Count
of
Ferroll
had
now
been
two
years
at
the
Court
of
St.
James’
.
The
Count
of
Ferroll
was
a
favourite
in
English
society
,
for
he
possessed
every
quality
which
there
conduces
to
success
.
He
was
of
great
family
and
of
distinguished
appearance
,
munificent
and
singularly
frank
;
was
a
dead-shot
,
and
the
boldest
of
riders
,
with
horses
which
were
the
admiration
alike
of
Melton
and
Newmarket
.
The
ladies
also
approved
of
him
,
for
he
was
a
consummate
waltzer
,
and
mixed
with
a
badinage
gaily
cynical
a
tone
that
could
be
tender
and
a
bewitching
smile
.
But
his
great
friend
was
Lady
Montfort
.
He
told
her
everything
,
and
consulted
her
on
everything
;
and
though
he
rarely
praised
anybody
,
it
had
reached
her
ears
that
the
Count
of
Ferroll
had
said
more
than
once
that
she
was
a
greater
woman
than
Louise
of
Savoy
or
the
Duchesse
de
Longueville
.
There
was
a
slight
rustling
in
the
room
.
A
gentleman
had
entered
and
glided
into
his
unoccupied
chair
,
which
his
valet
had
guarded
.
“
I
fear
I
am
not
in
time
for
an
oyster
,
”
said
Lord
Montfort
to
his
neighbour
.
The
gentleman
who
had
first
spoken
to
Endymion
was
the
secretary
of
Lord
Montfort
;
then
there
was
a
great
genius
who
was
projecting
a
suspension
bridge
over
the
Tyne
,
and
that
was
in
Lord
Montfort’s
county
.
A
distinguished
officer
of
the
British
Museum
completed
the
party
with
a
person
who
sate
opposite
Endymion
,
and
whom
in
the
dim
twilight
he
had
not
recognised
,
but
whom
he
now
beheld
with
no
little
emotion
.
It
was
Nigel
Penruddock
.
They
had
not
met
since
his
mother’s
funeral
,
and
the
associations
of
the
past
agitated
Endymion
.
They
exchanged
recognitions
;
that
of
Nigel
was
grave
but
kind
.
The
conversation
was
what
is
called
general
,
and
a
great
deal
on
suspension
bridges
.
Lord
Montfort
himself
led
off
on
this
,
in
order
to
bring
out
his
distinguished
guest
.
The
Count
of
Ferroll
was
also
interested
on
this
subject
,
as
his
own
government
was
making
inquiries
on
the
matter
.
The
gentleman
from
the
British
Museum
made
some
remarks
on
the
mode
in
which
the
ancient
Egyptians
moved
masses
of
granite
,
and
quoted
Herodotus
to
the
civil
engineer
.
The
civil
engineer
had
never
heard
of
Herodotus
,
but
he
said
he
was
going
to
Egypt
in
the
autumn
by
desire
of
Mehemet
Ali
,
and
he
would
undertake
to
move
any
mass
which
was
requisite
,
even
if
it
were
a
pyramid
itself
.
Lady
Montfort
,
without
disturbing
the
general
conversation
,
whispered
in
turns
to
the
Count
of
Ferroll
and
Endymion
,
and
told
the
latter
that
she
had
paid
a
visit
to
Lady
Roehampton
in
the
morning
—
a
most
delightful
visit
.
There
was
no
person
she
admired
so
much
as
his
sister
;
she
quite
loved
her
.
The
only
person
who
was
silent
was
Nigel
,
but
Lady
Montfort
,
who
perceived
everything
,
addressed
him
across
the
table
with
enthusiasm
about
some
changes
he
had
made
in
the
services
of
some
church
,
and
the
countenance
of
Nigel
became
suffused
like
a
young
saint
who
has
a
glimpse
of
Paradise
.
After
dinner
Lady
Montfort
led
Endymion
to
her
lord
,
and
left
him
seated
by
his
host
.
Lord
Montfort
was
affable
and
natural
in
his
manner
.
He
said
,
“
I
have
not
yet
made
the
acquaintance
of
Lady
Roehampton
,
for
I
never
go
out
;
but
I
hope
to
do
so
,
for
Lady
Montfort
tells
me
she
is
quite
captivating
.
”
“
She
is
a
very
good
sister
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
Lady
Montfort
has
told
me
a
great
deal
about
yourself
,
and
all
of
it
I
was
glad
to
hear
.
I
like
young
men
who
rise
by
their
merits
,
and
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
tells
Lady
Montfort
that
yours
are
distinguished
.
”
“
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
is
a
kind
master
,
sir
.
”
“
Well
,
I
was
his
fag
at
Harrow
,
and
I
thought
him
so
,
”
said
Lord
Montfort
.
“
And
now
about
your
office
;
tell
me
what
you
do
.
You
were
not
there
first
,
Lady
Montfort
says
.
Where
were
you
first
?
Tell
me
all
about
it
.
I
like
detail
.
”
It
was
impossible
to
resist
such
polished
and
amiable
curiosity
,
and
Endymion
gratified
it
with
youthful
grace
.
He
even
gave
Lord
Montfort
a
sketch
of
St.
Barbe
,
inspired
probably
by
the
interview
of
the
morning
.
Lord
Montfort
was
quite
amused
with
this
,
and
said
he
should
so
much
like
to
know
Mr.
St.
Barbe
.
It
was
clear
,
when
the
party
broke
up
,
that
Endymion
had
made
a
favourable
impression
,
for
Lord
Montfort
said
,
“
You
came
here
to-day
as
Lady
Montfort’s
friend
,
but
you
must
come
in
future
as
mine
also
.
And
will
you
understand
,
I
dine
at
home
every
day
when
I
am
in
town
,
and
I
give
you
a
general
invitation
.
Come
as
often
as
you
like
;
you
will
be
always
welcome
.
Only
let
the
house
know
your
intention
an
hour
before
dinner-time
,
as
I
have
a
particular
aversion
to
the
table
being
crowded
,
or
seeing
an
empty
chair
.
”
Lady
Montfort
had
passed
much
of
the
evening
in
earnest
conversation
with
Nigel
,
and
when
the
guests
quitted
the
room
,
Nigel
and
Endymion
walked
away
together
.
CHAPTER
LIV
The
meeting
between
Nigel
and
Endymion
was
not
an
ordinary
one
,
and
when
they
were
at
length
alone
,
neither
of
them
concealed
his
feelings
of
pleasure
and
surprise
at
its
occurrence
.
Nigel
had
been
a
curate
in
the
northern
town
which
was
defended
by
Lord
Montfort’s
proud
castle
,
and
his
labours
and
reputation
had
attracted
the
attention
of
Lady
Montfort
.
Under
the
influence
of
his
powerful
character
,
the
services
of
his
church
were
celebrated
with
a
precision
and
an
imposing
effect
,
which
soon
occasioned
a
considerable
excitement
in
the
neighbourhood
,
in
time
even
in
the
county
.
The
pulpit
was
frequently
at
his
command
,
for
his
rector
,
who
had
imbibed
his
Church
views
,
was
not
equal
to
the
task
of
propagating
them
,
and
the
power
and
fame
of
Nigel
as
a
preacher
began
to
be
much
rumoured
.
Although
the
church
at
which
he
officiated
was
not
the
one
which
Lady
Montfort
usually
attended
,
she
was
soon
among
his
congregation
and
remained
there
.
He
became
a
constant
guest
at
the
castle
,
and
Lady
Montfort
presented
his
church
with
a
reredos
of
alabaster
.
She
did
more
than
this
.
Her
enthusiasm
exceeded
her
selfishness
,
for
though
the
sacrifice
was
great
which
would
deprive
her
of
the
ministrations
and
society
of
Nigel
in
the
country
,
she
prevailed
upon
the
prime
minister
to
prefer
him
to
a
new
church
in
London
,
which
had
just
fallen
vacant
,
and
which
,
being
situated
in
a
wealthy
and
populous
district
,
would
afford
him
the
opportunity
of
making
known
to
the
world
his
eloquence
and
genius
.
This
was
Nigel’s
simple
,
yet
not
uneventful
history
;
and
then
,
in
turn
,
he
listened
to
Endymion’s
brief
but
interesting
narrative
of
his
career
,
and
then
they
agreed
to
adjourn
to
Endymion’s
chambers
and
have
a
good
talk
over
the
past
and
the
present
.
“
That
Lady
Montfort
is
a
great
woman
,
”
said
Nigel
,
standing
with
his
back
to
the
fire
.
“
She
has
it
in
her
to
be
another
Empress
Helena
.
”
“
Indeed
!
”
“
I
believe
she
has
only
one
thought
,
and
that
the
only
thought
worthy
the
human
mind
—
the
Church
.
I
was
glad
to
meet
you
at
her
house
.
You
have
cherished
,
I
hope
,
those
views
which
in
your
boyhood
you
so
fervently
and
seriously
embraced
.
”
“
I
am
rather
surprised
,
”
said
Endymion
,
not
caring
to
answer
this
inquiry
,
“
at
a
Whig
lady
entertaining
such
high
views
in
these
matters
.
The
Liberal
party
rather
depends
on
the
Low
Church
.
”
“
I
know
nothing
about
Whigs
or
Tories
or
Liberals
,
or
any
other
new
names
which
they
invent
,
”
said
Nigel
.
“
Nor
do
I
know
,
or
care
to
know
,
what
Low
Church
means
.
There
is
but
one
Church
,
and
it
is
catholic
and
apostolic
;
and
if
we
act
on
its
principles
,
there
will
be
no
need
,
and
there
ought
to
be
no
need
,
for
any
other
form
of
government
.
”
“
Well
,
those
are
very
distinct
views
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
but
are
they
as
practical
as
they
are
clear
?
”
“
Why
should
they
not
be
practical
?
Everything
is
practical
which
we
believe
;
and
in
the
long
run
,
which
is
most
likely
that
we
should
believe
,
what
is
taught
by
God
,
or
what
is
taught
by
man
?
”
“
I
confess
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
that
in
all
matters
,
both
civil
and
religious
,
I
incline
to
what
is
moderate
and
temperate
.
I
always
trace
my
dear
father’s
sad
end
,
and
all
the
terrible
events
in
my
family
,
to
his
adopting
in
1829
the
views
of
the
extreme
party
.
If
he
had
only
followed
the
example
and
the
advice
of
his
best
friend
,
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
,
what
a
different
state
of
affairs
might
have
occurred
!
”
“
I
know
nothing
about
politics
,
”
said
Nigel
.
“
By
being
moderate
and
temperate
in
politics
I
suppose
you
mean
being
adroit
,
and
doing
that
which
is
expedient
and
which
will
probably
be
successful
.
But
the
Church
is
founded
on
absolute
truth
,
and
teaches
absolute
truth
,
and
there
can
be
no
compromise
on
such
matters
.
”
“
Well
,
I
do
not
know
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
but
surely
there
are
many
very
religious
people
,
who
do
not
accept
without
reserve
everything
that
is
taught
by
the
Church
.
I
hope
I
am
a
religious
person
myself
,
and
yet
,
for
example
,
I
cannot
give
an
unreserved
assent
to
the
whole
of
the
Athanasian
Creed
.
”
“
The
Athanasian
Creed
is
the
most
splendid
ecclesiastical
lyric
ever
poured
forth
by
the
genius
of
man
.
I
give
to
every
clause
of
it
an
implicit
assent
.
It
does
not
pretend
to
be
divine
;
it
is
human
,
but
the
Church
has
hallowed
it
,
and
the
Church
ever
acts
under
the
influence
of
the
Divine
Spirit
.
St.
Athanasius
was
by
far
the
greatest
man
that
ever
existed
.
If
you
cavil
at
his
creed
,
you
will
soon
cavil
at
other
symbols
.
I
was
prepared
for
infidelity
in
London
,
but
I
confess
,
my
dear
Ferrars
,
you
alarm
me
.
I
was
in
hopes
that
your
early
education
would
have
saved
you
from
this
backsliding
.
”
“
But
let
us
be
calm
,
my
dear
Nigel
.
Do
you
mean
to
say
,
that
I
am
to
be
considered
an
infidel
or
an
apostate
,
because
,
although
I
fervently
embrace
all
the
vital
truths
of
religion
,
and
try
,
on
the
whole
,
to
regulate
my
life
by
them
,
I
may
have
scruples
about
believing
,
for
example
,
in
the
personality
of
the
Devil
?
”
“
If
the
personality
of
Satan
be
not
a
vital
principle
of
your
religion
,
I
do
not
know
what
is
.
There
is
only
one
dogma
higher
.
You
think
it
is
safe
,
and
I
daresay
it
is
fashionable
,
to
fall
into
this
lax
and
really
thoughtless
discrimination
between
what
is
and
what
is
not
to
be
believed
.
It
is
not
good
taste
to
believe
in
the
Devil
.
Give
me
a
single
argument
against
his
personality
which
is
not
applicable
to
the
personality
of
the
Deity
.
Will
you
give
that
up
;
and
if
so
,
where
are
you
?
Now
mark
me
;
you
and
I
are
young
men
—
you
are
a
very
young
man
.
This
is
the
year
of
grace
1839.
If
these
loose
thoughts
,
which
you
have
heedlessly
taken
up
,
prevail
in
this
country
for
a
generation
or
so
—
five
and
twenty
or
thirty
years
—
we
may
meet
together
again
,
and
I
shall
have
to
convince
you
that
there
is
a
God
.
”
CHAPTER
LV
The
balance
of
parties
in
the
House
of
Commons
,
which
had
been
virtually
restored
by
Sir
Robert
Peel’s
dissolution
of
1834
,
might
be
said
to
be
formally
and
positively
established
by
the
dissolution
of
parliament
in
the
autumn
of
1837
,
occasioned
by
the
demise
of
the
crown
.
The
ministerial
majority
became
almost
nominal
,
while
troubles
from
all
quarters
seemed
to
press
simultaneously
upon
them
:
Canadian
revolts
,
Chartist
insurrections
,
Chinese
squabbles
,
and
mysterious
complications
in
Central
Asia
,
which
threatened
immediate
hostilities
with
Persia
,
and
even
with
one
of
the
most
powerful
of
European
empires
.
In
addition
to
all
this
,
the
revenue
continually
declined
,
and
every
day
the
general
prejudice
became
more
intense
against
the
Irish
policy
of
the
ministry
.
The
extreme
popularity
of
the
Sovereign
,
reflecting
some
lustre
on
her
ministers
,
had
enabled
them
,
though
not
without
difficulty
,
to
tide
through
the
session
of
1838
;
but
when
parliament
met
in
1839
their
prospects
were
dark
,
and
it
was
known
that
there
was
a
section
of
the
extreme
Liberals
who
would
not
be
deeply
mortified
if
the
government
were
overthrown
.
All
efforts
,
therefore
,
political
and
social
,
and
particularly
the
latter
,
in
which
the
Whigs
excelled
,
were
to
be
made
to
prevent
or
to
retard
the
catastrophe
.
Lady
Montfort
and
Lady
Roehampton
opened
their
houses
to
the
general
world
at
an
unusually
early
period
.
Their
entertainments
rivalled
those
of
Zenobia
,
who
with
unflagging
gallantry
,
her
radiant
face
prescient
of
triumph
,
stopped
her
bright
vis-a-vis
and
her
tall
footmen
in
the
midst
of
St.
James’
Street
or
Pall
Mall
,
while
she
rapidly
inquired
from
some
friendly
passer-by
whom
she
had
observed
,
“
Tell
me
the
names
of
the
Radical
members
who
want
to
turn
out
the
government
,
and
I
will
invite
them
directly
.
”
Lady
Montfort
had
appropriated
the
Saturdays
,
as
was
her
custom
and
her
right
;
so
Myra
,
with
the
advice
of
Lord
Roehampton
,
had
fixed
on
Wednesdays
for
her
receptions
.
“
I
should
have
liked
to
have
taken
Wednesdays
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
“
but
I
do
not
care
to
seem
to
be
setting
up
against
Lady
Roehampton
,
for
her
mother
was
my
dearest
friend
.
Not
that
I
think
any
quarter
ought
to
be
shown
to
her
after
joining
those
atrocious
Whigs
,
but
to
be
sure
she
was
corrupted
by
her
husband
,
whom
I
remember
the
most
thorough
Tory
going
.
To
be
sure
,
I
was
a
Whig
myself
in
those
days
,
so
one
must
not
say
too
much
about
it
,
but
the
Whigs
then
were
gentlemen
.
I
will
tell
you
what
I
will
do
.
I
will
receive
both
on
Saturdays
and
Wednesdays
.
It
is
an
effort
,
and
I
am
not
as
young
as
I
was
,
but
it
will
only
be
for
a
season
or
less
,
for
I
know
these
people
cannot
stand
.
It
will
be
all
over
by
May
.
”
Prince
Florestan
had
arrived
in
town
,
and
was
now
settled
in
his
mansion
in
Carlton
Terrace
.
It
was
the
fashion
among
the
creme
de
la
creme
to
keep
aloof
from
him
.
The
Tories
did
not
love
revolutionary
dynasties
,
and
the
Whigs
being
in
office
could
not
sanction
a
pretender
,
and
one
who
,
they
significantly
intimated
with
a
charitable
shrug
of
the
shoulders
,
was
not
a
very
scrupulous
one
.
The
prince
himself
,
though
he
was
not
insensible
to
the
charms
of
society
,
and
especially
of
agreeable
women
,
was
not
much
chagrined
by
this
.
The
world
thought
that
he
had
fitted
up
his
fine
house
,
and
bought
his
fine
horses
,
merely
for
the
enjoyment
of
life
.
His
purposes
were
very
different
.
Though
his
acquaintances
were
limited
,
they
were
not
undistinguished
,
and
he
lived
with
them
in
intimacy
.
There
had
arisen
between
himself
and
Mr.
Waldershare
the
closest
alliance
both
of
thought
and
habits
.
They
were
rarely
separated
.
The
prince
was
also
a
frequent
guest
at
the
Neuchatels’
,
and
was
a
favourite
with
the
head
of
the
house
.
The
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
controlled
the
household
at
Carlton
Gardens
with
skill
.
The
appointments
were
finished
and
the
cuisine
refined
.
There
was
a
dinner
twice
a
week
,
from
which
Waldershare
was
rarely
absent
,
and
to
which
Endymion
,
whom
the
prince
always
treated
with
kindness
,
had
a
general
invitation
.
When
he
occasionally
dined
there
he
met
always
several
foreign
guests
,
and
all
men
apparently
of
mark
—
at
any
rate
,
all
distinguished
by
their
intelligence
.
It
was
an
interesting
and
useful
house
for
a
young
man
,
and
especially
a
young
politician
,
to
frequent
.
Endymion
heard
many
things
and
learnt
many
things
which
otherwise
would
not
have
met
his
ear
or
mind
.
The
prince
encouraged
conversation
,
though
himself
inclined
to
taciturnity
.
When
he
did
speak
,
his
terse
remarks
and
condensed
views
were
striking
,
and
were
remembered
.
On
the
days
on
which
he
did
not
receive
,
the
prince
dined
at
the
Travellers’
Club
,
to
which
Waldershare
had
obtained
his
introduction
,
and
generally
with
Waldershare
,
who
took
this
opportunity
of
gradually
making
his
friend
acquainted
with
eminent
and
influential
men
,
many
of
whom
in
due
time
became
guests
at
Carlton
Terrace
.
It
was
clear
,
indeed
,
that
these
club-dinners
were
part
of
a
system
.
The
prince
,
soon
after
his
arrival
in
town
,
while
riding
,
had
passed
Lady
Roehampton’s
carriage
in
the
park
,
and
he
had
saluted
her
with
a
grave
grace
which
distinguished
him
.
She
was
surprised
at
feeling
a
little
agitated
by
this
rencontre
.
It
recalled
Hainault
,
her
not
mortifying
but
still
humble
position
beneath
that
roof
,
the
prince’s
courtesy
to
her
under
those
circumstances
,
and
,
indeed
,
his
marked
preference
for
her
society
.
She
felt
it
something
like
ingratitude
to
treat
him
with
neglect
now
,
when
her
position
was
so
changed
and
had
become
so
elevated
.
She
mentioned
to
Lord
Roehampton
,
while
they
were
dining
alone
,
that
she
should
like
to
invite
the
prince
to
her
receptions
,
and
asked
his
opinion
on
the
point
.
Lord
Roehampton
shrugged
his
shoulders
and
did
not
encourage
her
.
“
You
know
,
my
darling
,
our
people
do
not
much
like
him
.
They
look
upon
him
as
a
pretender
,
as
having
forfeited
his
parole
,
and
as
a
refugee
from
justice
.
I
have
no
prejudices
against
him
myself
,
and
perhaps
in
the
same
situation
might
have
acted
in
the
same
manner
;
but
if
he
is
to
be
admitted
into
society
,
it
should
hardly
be
at
a
ministerial
reception
,
and
of
all
houses
,
that
of
one
who
holds
my
particular
post
.
”
“
I
know
nothing
about
his
forfeiting
his
parole
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
;
“
the
charge
is
involved
in
mystery
,
and
Mr.
Waldershare
told
me
it
was
an
entire
fabrication
.
As
for
his
being
a
pretender
,
he
seems
to
me
as
legitimate
a
prince
as
most
we
meet
;
he
was
born
in
the
purple
,
and
his
father
was
recognised
by
every
government
in
Europe
except
our
own
.
As
for
being
a
refugee
from
justice
,
a
prince
in
captivity
has
certainly
a
right
to
escape
if
he
can
,
and
his
escape
was
romantic
.
However
,
I
will
not
contest
any
decision
of
yours
,
for
I
think
you
are
always
right
.
Only
I
am
disappointed
,
for
,
to
say
nothing
of
the
unkindness
,
I
cannot
help
feeling
our
not
noticing
him
is
rather
shabby
.
”
There
was
silence
,
a
longer
silence
than
usually
occurred
in
tete-a-tete
dinners
between
Lord
and
Lady
Roehampton
.
To
break
the
silence
he
began
to
converse
on
another
subject
,
and
Lady
Roehampton
replied
to
him
cheerfully
,
but
curtly
.
He
saw
she
was
vexed
,
and
this
great
man
,
who
was
at
that
time
meditating
one
of
the
most
daring
acts
of
modern
diplomacy
,
who
had
the
reputation
,
in
the
conduct
of
public
affairs
,
of
not
only
being
courageous
,
but
of
being
stern
,
inflexible
,
unfeeling
,
and
unscrupulous
beyond
ordinary
statesmen
,
who
had
passed
his
mornings
in
writing
a
menacing
despatch
to
a
great
power
and
intimating
combinations
to
the
ambassadors
of
other
first-rate
states
which
they
almost
trembled
to
receive
,
was
quite
upset
by
seeing
his
wife
chagrined
.
At
last
,
after
another
embarrassing
pause
,
he
said
gaily
,
“
Do
you
know
,
my
dear
Myra
,
I
do
not
see
why
you
should
not
ask
Prince
Florestan
.
It
is
you
that
ask
him
,
not
I
.
That
is
one
of
the
pleasant
results
of
our
system
of
political
entertainments
.
The
guests
come
to
pay
their
respects
to
the
lady
of
the
house
,
so
no
one
is
committed
.
The
prince
may
visit
you
on
Wednesday
just
as
well
as
the
leaders
of
the
opposition
who
want
our
places
,
or
the
malcontent
Radicals
who
they
say
are
going
to
turn
us
out
.
”
So
Prince
Florestan
was
invited
to
Lady
Roehampton’s
receptions
,
and
he
came
;
and
he
never
missed
one
.
His
visits
were
brief
.
He
appeared
,
made
his
bow
,
had
the
pleasure
of
some
slight
conversation
with
her
,
and
then
soon
retired
.
Received
by
Lady
Roehampton
,
in
time
,
though
sluggishly
,
invitations
arrived
from
other
houses
,
but
he
rarely
availed
himself
of
them
.
He
maintained
in
this
respect
great
reserve
,
and
was
accustomed
to
say
that
the
only
fine
lady
in
London
who
had
ever
been
kind
to
him
was
Lady
Roehampton
.
All
this
time
Endymion
,
who
was
now
thoroughly
planted
in
society
,
saw
a
great
deal
of
the
Neuchatels
,
who
had
returned
to
Portland
Place
at
the
beginning
of
February
.
He
met
Adriana
almost
every
evening
,
and
was
frequently
invited
to
the
house
—
to
the
grand
dinners
now
,
as
well
as
the
domestic
circle
.
In
short
,
our
Endymion
was
fast
becoming
a
young
man
of
fashion
and
a
personage
.
The
brother
of
Lady
Roehampton
had
now
become
the
private
secretary
of
Mr.
Sydney
Wilton
and
the
great
friend
of
Lady
Montfort
.
He
was
indeed
only
one
of
the
numerous
admirers
of
that
lady
,
but
he
seemed
not
the
least
smiled
on
.
There
was
never
anything
delightful
at
Montfort
House
at
which
he
was
not
present
,
or
indeed
in
any
other
place
,
for
under
her
influence
,
invitations
from
the
most
distinguished
houses
crowded
his
mantelpiece
and
were
stuck
all
round
his
looking-glass
.
Endymion
in
this
whirl
of
life
did
not
forget
his
old
friends
.
He
took
care
that
Seymour
Hicks
should
have
a
frequent
invitation
to
Lady
Roehampton’s
assemblies
.
Seymour
Hicks
only
wanted
a
lever
to
raise
the
globe
,
and
this
introduction
supplied
him
with
one
.
It
was
astonishing
how
he
made
his
way
in
society
,
and
though
,
of
course
,
he
never
touched
the
empyrean
regions
in
which
Endymion
now
breathed
,
he
gradually
,
and
at
last
rapidly
,
planted
himself
in
a
world
which
to
the
uninitiated
figures
as
the
very
realm
of
nobility
and
fashion
,
and
where
doubtless
is
found
a
great
fund
of
splendour
,
refinement
,
and
amusement
.
Seymour
Hicks
was
not
ill-favoured
,
and
was
always
well
dressed
,
and
he
was
very
civil
,
but
what
he
really
owed
his
social
advancement
to
was
his
indomitable
will
.
That
quality
governs
all
things
,
and
though
the
will
of
Seymour
Hicks
was
directed
to
what
many
may
deem
a
petty
or
a
contracted
purpose
,
life
is
always
interesting
when
you
have
a
purpose
and
live
in
its
fulfilment
.
It
appeared
from
what
he
told
Endymion
that
matters
at
the
office
had
altered
a
good
deal
since
he
left
it
.
The
retirement
of
St.
Barbe
was
the
first
brick
out
of
the
wall
;
now
,
which
Endymion
had
not
yet
heard
,
the
brother
of
Trenchard
had
most
unexpectedly
died
,
and
that
gentleman
come
into
a
good
estate
.
“
Jawett
remains
,
and
is
also
the
editor
of
the
‘Precursor
,
’
but
his
new
labours
so
absorb
his
spare
time
that
he
is
always
at
the
office
of
the
paper
.
So
it
is
pretty
well
all
over
with
the
table
at
Joe’s
.
I
confess
I
could
not
stand
it
any
longer
,
particularly
after
you
left
.
I
have
got
into
the
junior
Pan-Ionian
;
and
I
am
down
for
the
senior
;
I
cannot
get
in
for
ten
years
,
but
when
I
do
it
will
be
a
coup
;
the
society
there
is
tiptop
,
a
cabinet
minister
sometimes
,
and
very
often
a
bishop
.
”
CHAPTER
LVI
Endymion
was
glad
to
meet
Baron
Sergius
one
day
when
he
dined
with
Prince
Florestan
.
There
were
several
distinguished
foreigners
among
the
guests
,
who
had
just
arrived
.
They
talked
much
,
and
with
much
emphasis
.
One
of
them
,
the
Marquis
of
Vallombrosa
,
expatiated
on
the
Latin
race
,
their
great
qualities
,
their
vivacity
,
invention
,
vividness
of
perception
,
chivalrous
valour
,
and
sympathy
with
tradition
.
The
northern
races
detested
them
,
and
the
height
of
statesmanship
was
to
combine
the
Latin
races
into
an
organised
and
active
alliance
against
the
barbarism
which
menaced
them
.
There
had
been
for
a
short
time
a
vacant
place
next
to
Endymion
,
when
Baron
Sergius
,
according
to
his
quiet
manner
,
stole
into
the
room
and
slipped
into
the
unoccupied
seat
.
“
It
is
some
time
since
we
met
,
”
he
said
,
“
but
I
have
heard
of
you
.
You
are
now
a
public
man
,
and
not
a
public
character
.
That
is
a
not
unsatisfactory
position
.
”
The
prince
listened
apparently
with
much
interest
to
the
Marquis
of
Vallombrosa
,
occasionally
asked
him
a
question
,
and
promoted
discussion
without
himself
giving
any
opinion
.
Baron
Sergius
never
spoke
except
to
Endymion
,
and
then
chiefly
social
inquiries
about
Lord
and
Lady
Roehampton
,
their
good
friends
the
Neuchatels
,
and
frequently
about
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
,
whom
,
it
appeared
,
he
had
known
years
ago
,
and
intimately
.
After
dinner
the
guests
,
on
the
return
to
the
saloon
,
ranged
themselves
in
a
circle
,
but
not
too
formally
,
and
the
prince
moving
round
addressed
each
of
them
in
turn
.
When
this
royal
ceremony
was
concluded
,
the
prince
motioned
to
the
Marquis
of
Vallombrosa
to
accompany
him
,
and
then
they
repaired
to
an
adjacent
salon
,
the
door
of
which
was
open
,
but
where
they
could
converse
without
observation
.
The
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
amused
the
remaining
guests
with
all
the
resources
of
a
man
practised
in
making
people
feel
at
their
ease
,
and
in
this
he
was
soon
greatly
assisted
by
Mr.
Waldershare
,
who
was
unable
to
dine
with
the
prince
to-day
,
but
who
seemed
to
take
much
interest
in
this
arrival
of
the
representatives
of
the
Latin
race
.
Baron
Sergius
and
Endymion
were
sitting
together
rather
apart
from
the
rest
.
The
baron
said
,
“
You
have
heard
to-day
a
great
deal
about
the
Latin
race
,
their
wondrous
qualities
,
their
peculiar
destiny
,
their
possible
danger
.
It
is
a
new
idea
,
or
rather
a
new
phrase
,
that
I
observe
is
now
getting
into
the
political
world
,
and
is
probably
destined
to
produce
consequences
.
No
man
will
treat
with
indifference
the
principle
of
race
.
It
is
the
key
of
history
,
and
why
history
is
often
so
confused
is
that
it
has
been
written
by
men
who
were
ignorant
of
this
principle
and
all
the
knowledge
it
involves
.
As
one
who
may
become
a
statesman
and
assist
in
governing
mankind
,
it
is
necessary
that
you
should
not
be
insensible
to
it
;
whether
you
encounter
its
influence
in
communities
or
in
individuals
,
its
qualities
must
ever
be
taken
into
account
.
But
there
is
no
subject
which
more
requires
discriminating
knowledge
,
or
where
your
illustrating
principle
,
if
you
are
not
deeply
founded
,
may
not
chance
to
turn
out
a
will-o’-the-wisp
.
Now
this
great
question
of
the
Latin
race
,
by
which
M
.
de
Vallombrosa
may
succeed
in
disturbing
the
world
—
it
might
be
well
to
inquire
where
the
Latin
race
is
to
be
found
.
In
the
North
of
Italy
,
peopled
by
Germans
and
named
after
Germans
,
or
in
the
South
of
Italy
,
swarming
with
the
descendants
of
Normans
and
Arabs
?
Shall
we
find
the
Latin
race
in
Spain
,
stocked
by
Goths
,
and
Moors
,
and
Jews
?
Or
in
France
,
where
there
is
a
great
Celtic
nation
,
occasionally
mingled
with
Franks
?
Now
I
do
not
want
to
go
into
the
origin
of
man
and
nations
—
I
am
essentially
practical
,
and
only
endeavour
to
comprehend
that
with
which
I
have
personally
to
deal
,
and
that
is
sufficiently
difficult
.
In
Europe
I
find
three
great
races
with
distinct
qualities
—
the
Teutons
,
the
Sclaves
,
and
the
Celts
;
and
their
conduct
will
be
influenced
by
those
distinctive
qualities
.
There
is
another
great
race
which
influences
the
world
,
the
Semites
.
Certainly
,
when
I
was
at
the
Congress
of
Vienna
,
I
did
not
believe
that
the
Arabs
were
more
likely
to
become
a
conquering
race
again
than
the
Tartars
,
and
yet
it
is
a
question
at
this
moment
whether
Mehemet
Ali
,
at
their
head
,
may
not
found
a
new
empire
in
the
Mediterranean
.
The
Semites
are
unquestionably
a
great
race
,
for
among
the
few
things
in
this
world
which
appear
to
be
certain
,
nothing
is
more
sure
than
that
they
invented
our
alphabet
.
But
the
Semites
now
exercise
a
vast
influence
over
affairs
by
their
smallest
though
most
peculiar
family
,
the
Jews
.
There
is
no
race
gifted
with
so
much
tenacity
,
and
such
skill
in
organisation
.
These
qualities
have
given
them
an
unprecedented
hold
over
property
and
illimitable
credit
.
As
you
advance
in
life
,
and
get
experience
in
affairs
,
the
Jews
will
cross
you
everywhere
.
They
have
long
been
stealing
into
our
secret
diplomacy
,
which
they
have
almost
appropriated
;
in
another
quarter
of
a
century
they
will
claim
their
share
of
open
government
.
Well
,
these
are
races
;
men
and
bodies
of
men
influenced
in
their
conduct
by
their
particular
organisation
,
and
which
must
enter
into
all
the
calculations
of
a
statesman
.
But
what
do
they
mean
by
the
Latin
race
?
Language
and
religion
do
not
make
a
race
—
there
is
only
one
thing
which
makes
a
race
,
and
that
is
blood
.
”
“
But
the
prince
,
”
said
Endymion
inquiringly
;
“
he
seemed
much
interested
in
what
M
.
de
Vallombrosa
was
saying
;
I
should
like
to
know
what
his
opinions
are
about
the
Latin
race
.
”
“
The
prince
rarely
gives
an
opinion
,
”
said
the
baron
.
“
Indeed
,
as
you
well
know
,
he
rarely
speaks
;
he
thinks
and
he
acts
.
”
“
But
if
he
acts
on
wrong
information
,
”
continued
Endymion
,
“
there
will
probably
be
only
one
consequence
.
”
“
The
prince
is
very
wise
,
”
said
the
baron
;
“
and
,
trust
me
,
knows
as
much
about
mankind
,
and
the
varieties
of
mankind
,
as
any
one
.
He
may
not
believe
in
the
Latin
race
,
but
he
may
choose
to
use
those
who
do
believe
in
it
.
The
weakness
of
the
prince
,
if
he
have
one
,
is
not
want
of
knowledge
,
or
want
of
judgment
,
but
an
over-confidence
in
his
star
,
which
sometimes
seduces
him
into
enterprises
which
he
himself
feels
at
the
time
are
not
perfectly
sound
.
”
CHAPTER
LVII
The
interest
of
the
town
was
now
divided
between
the
danger
of
the
government
and
the
new
preacher
who
electrified
the
world
at
St.
Rosicrucius
.
The
Rev.
Nigel
Penruddock
was
not
at
all
a
popular
preacher
according
to
the
vulgar
acceptation
of
the
term
.
He
disdained
all
cant
and
clap-trap
.
He
preached
Church
principles
with
commanding
eloquence
,
and
he
practised
them
with
unceasing
devotion
.
His
church
was
always
open
,
yet
his
schools
were
never
neglected
;
there
was
a
perfect
choir
,
a
staff
of
disciplined
curates
,
young
and
ascetic
,
while
sacred
sisters
,
some
of
patrician
blood
,
fearless
and
prepared
for
martyrdom
,
were
gliding
about
all
the
back
slums
of
his
ferocious
neighbourhood
.
How
came
the
Whigs
to
give
such
a
church
to
such
a
person
?
There
must
have
been
some
mistake
.
But
how
came
it
that
all
the
Whig
ladies
were
among
the
most
devoted
of
his
congregation
?
The
government
whips
did
not
like
it
;
at
such
a
critical
period
too
,
when
it
was
necessary
to
keep
the
Dissenters
up
to
the
mark
!
And
there
was
Lady
Montfort
and
Lady
Roehampton
never
absent
on
a
Sunday
,
and
their
carriages
,
it
was
whispered
,
were
often
suspiciously
near
to
St.
Rosicrucius
on
week-days
.
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
too
was
frequently
in
Lady
Roehampton’s
pew
,
and
one
day
,
absolutely
my
lord
himself
,
who
unfortunately
was
rarely
seen
at
church
—
but
then
,
as
is
well
known
,
critical
despatches
always
arrive
on
a
Sunday
morning
—
was
successfully
landed
in
her
pew
by
Lady
Roehampton
,
and
was
very
much
struck
indeed
by
what
he
heard
.
“
The
fact
is
,
”
as
he
afterwards
observed
,
“
I
wish
we
had
such
a
fellow
on
our
bench
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
”
About
this
time
also
there
was
another
event
,
which
,
although
not
of
so
general
an
interest
,
much
touched
the
feelings
of
Endymion
,
and
this
was
the
marriage
of
the
Earl
of
Beaumaris
with
Imogene
.
It
was
solemnised
in
as
private
and
quiet
a
manner
as
possible
.
Waldershare
was
the
best
man
,
and
there
were
no
bridesmaids
.
The
only
other
persons
invited
by
Mr.
Rodney
,
who
gave
away
the
bride
,
were
Endymion
and
Mr.
Vigo
.
One
morning
,
a
few
days
before
the
wedding
,
Sylvia
,
who
had
written
to
ask
Lady
Roehampton
for
an
interview
,
called
by
appointment
in
St.
James’
Square
.
Sylvia
was
received
by
Lady
Roehampton
in
her
boudoir
,
and
the
interview
was
long
.
Sylvia
,
who
by
nature
was
composed
,
and
still
more
so
by
art
,
was
pale
and
nervous
when
she
arrived
,
so
much
so
that
her
demeanour
was
noticed
by
the
groom
of
the
chambers
;
but
when
she
departed
,
her
countenance
was
flushed
and
radiant
,
though
it
was
obvious
that
she
had
been
shedding
tears
.
On
the
morning
of
the
wedding
,
Lady
Roehampton
in
her
lord’s
brougham
called
for
Endymion
at
the
Albany
,
and
then
they
went
together
to
the
vestry
of
St.
James’
Church
.
Lord
Beaumaris
and
Mr.
Waldershare
had
arrived
.
The
bridegroom
was
a
little
embarrassed
when
he
was
presented
to
Lady
Roehampton
.
He
had
made
up
his
mind
to
be
married
,
but
not
to
be
introduced
to
a
stranger
,
and
particularly
a
lady
;
but
Mr.
Waldershare
fluttered
over
them
and
put
all
right
.
It
was
only
the
perplexity
of
a
moment
,
for
the
rest
of
the
wedding
party
now
appeared
.
Imogene
,
who
was
in
a
travelling
dress
,
was
pale
and
serious
,
but
transcendently
beautiful
.
She
attempted
to
touch
Lady
Roehampton’s
hand
with
her
lips
when
Myra
welcomed
her
,
but
Lady
Roehampton
would
not
permit
this
,
and
kissed
her
.
Everybody
was
calm
during
the
ceremony
except
Endymion
,
who
had
been
silent
the
whole
morning
.
He
stood
by
the
altar
with
that
convulsion
of
the
throat
and
that
sickness
of
the
heart
which
accompany
the
sense
of
catastrophe
.
He
was
relieved
by
some
tears
which
he
easily
concealed
.
Nobody
noticed
him
,
for
all
were
thinking
of
themselves
.
After
the
ceremony
,
they
all
returned
to
the
vestry
,
and
Lady
Roehampton
with
the
others
signed
the
registry
.
Lord
and
Lady
Beaumaris
instantly
departed
for
the
continent
.
“
A
strange
event
!
”
exclaimed
Lady
Roehampton
,
as
she
threw
herself
back
in
the
brougham
and
took
her
brother’s
hand
.
“
But
not
stranger
than
what
has
happened
to
ourselves
.
Fortune
seems
to
attend
on
our
ruined
home
.
I
thought
the
bride
looked
beautiful
.
”
Endymion
was
silent
.
“
You
are
not
gay
this
morning
,
my
dear
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
;
“
they
say
that
weddings
are
depressing
.
Now
I
am
in
rather
high
spirits
.
I
am
very
glad
that
Imogene
has
become
Lady
Beaumaris
.
She
is
beautiful
,
and
dangerously
beautiful
.
Do
you
know
,
my
Endymion
,
I
have
had
some
uneasy
moments
about
this
young
lady
.
Women
are
prescient
in
these
matters
,
and
I
have
observed
with
anxiety
that
you
admired
her
too
much
yourself
.
”
“
I
am
sure
you
had
no
reason
,
Myra
,
”
said
Endymion
,
blushing
deeply
.
“
Certainly
not
from
what
you
said
,
my
dear
.
It
was
from
what
you
did
not
say
that
I
became
alarmed
.
You
seldom
mentioned
her
name
,
and
when
I
referred
to
her
,
you
always
turned
the
conversation
.
However
,
that
is
all
over
now
.
She
is
Countess
of
Beaumaris
,
”
added
Myra
,
dwelling
slowly
and
with
some
unction
on
the
title
,
“
and
may
be
a
powerful
friend
to
you
;
and
I
am
Countess
of
Roehampton
,
and
am
your
friend
,
also
not
quite
devoid
of
power
.
And
there
are
other
countesses
,
I
suspect
,
on
whose
good
wishes
you
may
rely
.
If
we
cannot
shape
your
destiny
,
there
is
no
such
thing
as
witchcraft
.
No
,
Endymion
,
marriage
is
a
mighty
instrument
in
your
hands
.
It
must
not
be
lightly
used
.
Come
in
and
lunch
;
my
lord
is
at
home
,
and
I
know
he
wants
to
see
you
.
”
CHAPTER
LVIII
What
was
most
remarkable
,
and
most
interesting
,
in
the
character
of
Berengaria
was
her
energy
.
She
had
the
power
of
exciting
others
to
action
in
a
degree
rarely
possessed
.
She
had
always
some
considerable
object
in
contemplation
,
occasionally
more
than
one
,
and
never
foresaw
difficulties
.
Her
character
was
,
however
,
singularly
feminine
;
she
never
affected
to
be
a
superior
woman
.
She
never
reasoned
,
did
not
read
much
,
though
her
literary
taste
was
fine
and
fastidious
.
Though
she
required
constant
admiration
and
consequently
encouraged
it
,
she
was
not
a
heartless
coquette
.
Her
sensibility
was
too
quick
,
and
as
the
reign
of
her
favourites
was
sometimes
brief
,
she
was
looked
upon
as
capricious
.
The
truth
is
,
what
seemed
whimsical
in
her
affections
was
occasioned
by
the
subtlety
of
her
taste
,
which
was
not
always
satisfied
by
the
increased
experience
of
intimacy
.
Whenever
she
made
a
friend
not
unworthy
of
her
,
she
was
constant
and
entirely
devoted
.
At
present
,
Berengaria
had
two
great
objects
;
one
was
to
sustain
the
Whig
government
in
its
troubles
,
and
the
other
was
to
accomplish
an
unprecedented
feat
in
modern
manners
,
and
that
was
no
less
than
to
hold
a
tournament
,
a
real
tournament
,
in
the
autumn
,
at
the
famous
castle
of
her
lord
in
the
North
of
England
.
The
lord-lieutenant
had
not
been
in
his
county
for
two
years
;
he
had
even
omitted
to
celebrate
Christmas
at
his
castle
,
which
had
shocked
everybody
,
for
its
revelry
was
looked
upon
almost
as
the
tenure
by
which
the
Montforts
held
their
estates
.
His
plea
of
ill
health
,
industriously
circulated
by
all
his
agents
,
obtained
neither
sympathy
nor
credence
.
His
county
was
rather
a
weak
point
with
Lord
Montfort
,
for
though
he
could
not
bear
his
home
,
he
was
fond
of
power
,
and
power
depended
on
his
territorial
influence
.
The
representation
of
his
county
by
his
family
,
and
authority
in
the
local
parliamentary
boroughs
,
were
the
compensations
held
out
to
him
for
the
abolition
of
his
normal
seats
.
His
wife
dexterously
availed
herself
of
this
state
of
affairs
to
obtain
his
assent
to
her
great
project
,
which
,
it
would
appear
,
might
not
only
amuse
him
,
but
,
in
its
unprecedented
magnificence
and
novelty
,
must
sweep
away
all
discontents
,
and
gratify
every
class
.
Lord
Montfort
had
placed
unlimited
resources
at
the
disposal
of
Berengaria
for
the
fulfilment
of
her
purpose
,
and
at
times
even
showed
some
not
inconsiderable
though
fitful
interest
in
her
progress
.
He
turned
over
the
drawings
of
the
various
costumes
and
armour
with
a
gracious
smile
,
and
,
having
picked
up
on
such
subjects
a
great
deal
of
knowledge
,
occasionally
made
suggestions
which
were
useful
and
sometimes
embarrassing
.
The
heralds
were
all
called
into
council
,
and
Garter
himself
deigned
to
regulate
the
order
of
proceedings
.
Some
of
the
finest
gentlemen
in
London
,
of
both
parties
in
the
state
,
passed
the
greater
part
of
their
spring
mornings
in
jousting
,
and
in
practising
all
the
manoeuvres
of
the
lists
.
Lady
Montfort
herself
was
to
be
the
Queen
of
the
Tournament
,
and
she
had
prevailed
on
Lady
Roehampton
to
accept
the
supreme
office
of
Queen
of
Beauty
.
It
was
the
early
part
of
May
,
and
Zenobia
held
one
of
her
great
assemblies
.
Being
in
high
good
humour
,
sanguine
and
prophetic
of
power
,
she
had
asked
all
the
great
Whig
ladies
,
and
,
the
times
being
critical
,
they
had
come
.
Berengaria
seemed
absorbed
by
the
details
of
her
tournament
.
She
met
many
of
her
knights
,
and
she
conferred
with
them
all
;
the
Knight
of
the
Bleeding
Heart
,
the
Knight
of
Roses
,
the
Knight
of
the
Crystal
Shield
.
Endymion
,
who
was
not
to
be
a
knight
,
but
a
gentleman-at-arms
in
attendance
on
the
Queen
of
the
Tournament
,
mentioned
that
Prince
Florestan
much
wished
to
be
a
jouster
;
he
had
heard
this
from
the
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
,
and
Lady
Montfort
,
though
she
did
not
immediately
sanction
,
did
not
absolutely
refuse
,
the
request
.
Past
midnight
,
there
was
a
sudden
stir
in
the
saloons
.
The
House
of
Commons
had
broken
up
and
many
members
were
entering
.
There
had
been
a
division
on
the
Jamaica
question
,
and
the
ministers
had
only
a
majority
of
five
.
The
leader
of
the
House
of
Commons
had
intimated
,
not
to
say
announced
,
their
consequent
resignation
.
“
Have
you
heard
what
they
say
?
”
said
Endymion
anxiously
to
Lady
Montfort
.
“
Yes
,
I
heard
;
but
do
not
look
so
grave
.
”
“
Do
I
look
grave
?
”
“
As
if
it
were
the
last
day
.
”
“
I
fear
it
is
.
”
“
I
am
not
so
sure
.
I
doubt
whether
Sir
Robert
thinks
it
ripe
enough
;
and
after
all
,
we
are
not
in
a
minority
.
I
do
not
see
why
we
should
have
resigned
.
I
wish
I
could
see
Lord
Roehampton
.
”
Affairs
did
not
proceed
so
rapidly
as
the
triumphant
Zenobia
expected
.
They
were
out
,
no
question
about
that
;
but
it
was
not
so
certain
who
was
in
.
A
day
passed
and
another
day
,
and
even
Zenobia
,
who
knew
everything
before
anybody
,
remained
in
the
dark
.
The
suspense
became
protracted
and
even
more
mysterious
.
Almost
a
week
had
elapsed
;
noble
lords
and
right
honourable
gentlemen
were
calling
on
Sir
Robert
every
morning
,
according
to
the
newspapers
,
but
no
one
could
hear
from
any
authority
of
any
appointments
being
really
made
.
At
last
,
there
was
a
whisper
very
late
one
night
at
Crockford’s
,
which
was
always
better
informed
on
these
matters
than
the
political
clubs
,
and
people
looked
amazed
,
and
stared
incredulously
in
each
other’s
face
.
But
it
was
true
;
there
was
a
hitch
,
and
in
four-and-twenty
hours
the
cause
of
the
hitch
was
known
.
It
seemed
that
the
ministry
really
had
resigned
,
but
Berengaria
,
Countess
of
Montfort
,
had
not
followed
their
example
.
What
a
dangerous
woman
!
even
wicked
!
Zenobia
was
for
sending
her
to
the
Tower
at
once
.
“
It
was
clearly
impossible
,
”
she
declared
,
“
for
Sir
Robert
to
carry
on
affairs
with
such
a
Duchesse
de
Longueville
always
at
the
ear
of
our
young
Queen
,
under
the
pretence
forsooth
of
being
the
friend
of
Her
Majesty’s
youth
.
”
This
was
the
famous
Bed-Chamber
Plot
,
in
which
the
Conservative
leaders
,
as
is
now
generally
admitted
,
were
decidedly
in
error
,
and
which
terminated
in
the
return
of
the
Whigs
to
office
.
“
But
we
must
reconstruct
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
to
the
prime
minister
.
“
Sidney
Wilton
must
be
Secretary
of
State
.
And
you
,
”
she
said
to
Endymion
,
when
she
communicated
to
him
the
successful
result
of
her
interference
,
“
you
will
go
with
him
.
It
is
a
great
thing
at
your
age
to
be
private
secretary
to
a
Secretary
of
State
.
”
CHAPTER
LIX
Montfort
Castle
was
the
stronghold
of
England
against
the
Scotch
invader
.
It
stood
on
a
high
and
vast
table-land
,
with
the
town
of
Montfort
on
one
side
at
its
feet
,
and
on
the
other
a
wide-spreading
and
sylvan
domain
,
herded
with
deer
of
various
races
,
and
terminating
in
pine
forests
;
beyond
them
moors
and
mountains
.
The
donjon
keep
,
tall
and
grey
,
that
had
arrested
the
Douglas
,
still
remained
intact
,
and
many
an
ancient
battlement
;
but
the
long
list
of
the
Lords
of
Montfort
had
successively
added
to
the
great
structure
according
to
the
genius
of
the
times
,
so
that
still
with
the
external
appearance
generally
of
a
feudal
castle
,
it
combined
in
its
various
courts
and
quadrangle
all
the
splendour
and
convenience
of
a
modern
palace
.
But
though
it
had
witnessed
many
scenes
and
sights
,
and
as
strange
ones
as
any
old
walls
in
this
ancient
land
,
it
may
be
doubted
whether
the
keep
of
Montfort
ever
looked
down
on
anything
more
rare
than
the
life
that
was
gathering
and
disporting
itself
in
its
towers
and
halls
,
and
courts
and
parks
,
and
forest
chase
,
in
the
memorable
autumn
of
this
year
.
Berengaria
had
repaired
to
her
castle
full
of
triumph
;
her
lord
,
in
high
good
humour
,
admiring
his
wife
for
her
energy
,
yet
with
a
playful
malice
apparently
enjoying
the
opportunity
of
showing
that
the
chronology
of
her
arrangements
was
confused
,
and
her
costume
incorrect
.
They
had
good-naturedly
taken
Endymion
down
with
them
;
for
travelling
to
the
Border
in
those
times
was
a
serious
affair
for
a
clerk
in
a
public
office
.
Day
after
day
the
other
guests
arrived
;
the
rivals
in
the
tourney
were
among
the
earliest
,
for
they
had
to
make
themselves
acquainted
with
the
land
which
was
to
be
the
scene
of
their
exploits
.
There
came
the
Knights
of
the
Griffin
,
and
the
Dragon
,
and
the
Black
Lion
and
the
Golden
Lion
,
and
the
Dolphin
and
the
Stag’s
Head
,
and
they
were
all
always
scrupulously
addressed
by
their
chivalric
names
,
instead
of
by
the
Tommys
and
the
Jemmys
that
circulated
in
the
affectionate
circle
of
White’s
,
or
the
Gusseys
and
the
Regys
of
Belgravian
tea-parties
.
After
a
time
duly
appeared
the
Knight
of
the
White
Rose
,
whose
armour
shielded
the
princely
form
of
Florestan
;
and
this
portion
of
the
company
was
complete
when
the
Black
Knight
at
length
reached
the
castle
,
who
had
been
detained
by
his
attendance
on
a
conference
at
St.
James’
,
in
the
character
of
the
Count
of
Ferroll
.
If
anything
could
add
to
the
delight
and
excitement
of
Berengaria
,
it
would
seem
to
be
the
arrival
of
the
Count
of
Ferroll
.
Other
guests
gradually
appeared
,
who
were
to
sustain
other
characters
in
the
great
pageant
.
There
was
the
Judge
of
Peace
,
and
the
Knight
Marshal
of
the
Lists
,
and
the
Jester
,
who
was
to
ride
on
a
caparisoned
mule
trapped
with
bells
,
and
himself
bearing
a
sceptre
.
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
came
down
,
who
had
promised
to
be
King
of
the
Tournament
;
and
,
though
rather
late
,
for
my
lord
had
been
detained
by
the
same
cause
as
the
Count
of
Ferroll
,
at
length
arrived
the
Queen
of
Beauty
herself
.
If
the
performance
,
to
which
all
contiguous
Britain
intended
to
repair
—
for
irrespective
of
the
railroads
,
which
now
began
sensibly
to
affect
the
communications
in
the
North
of
England
,
steamers
were
chartering
from
every
port
for
passengers
to
the
Montfort
tournament
within
one
hundred
miles’
distance
—
were
equal
to
the
preparation
,
the
affair
must
be
a
great
success
.
The
grounds
round
the
castle
seemed
to
be
filled
every
day
with
groups
of
busy
persons
in
fanciful
costume
,
all
practising
their
duties
and
rehearsing
their
parts
;
swordsmen
and
bowmen
,
and
seneschals
and
esquires
,
and
grooms
and
pages
,
and
heralds
in
tabards
,
and
pursuivants
,
and
banner-bearers
.
The
splendid
pavilions
of
the
knights
were
now
completed
,
and
the
gorgeous
throne
of
the
Queen
of
Beauty
,
surrounded
by
crimson
galleries
,
tier
above
tier
,
for
thousands
of
favoured
guests
,
were
receiving
only
their
last
stroke
of
magnificence
.
The
mornings
passed
in
a
feverish
whirl
of
curiosity
,
and
preparation
,
and
excitement
,
and
some
anxiety
.
Then
succeeded
the
banquet
,
where
nearly
one
hundred
guests
were
