"There's nothing of the sound of a quarter in farthing," said Mr.
Palliser.
"Stick to the old word," said Mr. Gresham. And so the matter was decided
while Lady Glencora was flattering Lord Fawn as to the manner in which he
had finally arranged the affair of the Sawab of Mygawb. Then they went
down to dinner, and not a word more was said that evening about the new
penny by Mr. Palliser.
Before dinner Lady Glencora had exacted a promise from Lord Fawn that he
would return to the drawing-room. Lady Glencora was very clever at such
work, and said nothing then of her purpose. She did not want her guests to
run away, and therefore Lord Fawn--Lord Fawn especially--must stay. If he
were to go there would be nothing spoken of all the evening, but that
weary new penny. To oblige her he must remain; and, of course, he did
remain. "Whom do you think I saw the other day?" said Lady Glencora, when
she got her victim into a corner. Of course Lord Fawn had no idea whom she
might have seen. Up to that moment no suspicion of what was coming upon
him had crossed his mind. "I called upon poor Lady Eustace and found her
in bed." Then did Lord Fawn blush up to the roots of his hair, and for a
moment he was stricken dumb.
Pages:
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842