'What, Isidora? She is coming over.'

'But I thought it was high treason to plunder the grandees' dovecotes?'

'Why, all our regular official negotiations have failed. She is not permitted to treat with a foreign manager; but the new amba.s.sador has a secretary, and that secretary has some diplomatic ability, and so Isidora is to be smuggled over.'

'In a red box, I suppose,' said Lord Squib.

'I rather admire our Adele,' said the Duke of St. James. 'I really think she dances with more _aplomb_ than any of them.'

'Oh! certainly; she is a favourite of mine.'

'But I like that wild little Ducis,' said Lord Squib. 'She puts me in mind of a wild cat.'

'And Marunia of a Bengal tiger,' said his Grace.

'She is a fine woman, though,' said Lord Darrell.

'I think your cousin, St. James,' said Lord Squib, 'will get into a sc.r.a.pe with Marunia. I remember Chetwynd telling me, and he was not apt to complain on that score, that he never should have broken up if it had not been for her.'

'But he was an extravagant fellow,' said Mr. Annesley: 'he called me in at his _boulevers.e.m.e.nt_ for advice, as I have the reputation of a good economist. I do not know how it is, though I see these things perpetually happen; but why men, and men of small fortunes, should commit such follies, really exceeds my comprehension. Ten thousand pounds for trinkets, and nearly as much for old furniture!'

'Chetwynd kept it up a good many years, though, I think,' said Lord Darrell. 'I remember going to see his rooms when I first came over. You recollect his pearl fountain of Cologne water?'

'Millecolonnes fitted up his place, I think?' asked the young Duke; 'but it was before my time.'

'Oh! yes; little Bijou,' said Annesley. 'He has done you justice, Duke.

I think the Alhambra much the prettiest thing in town.'

'I was attacked the other day most vigorously by Mrs. Dallington to obtain a sight,' said Lord Squib. 'I referred her to Lucy Grafton. Do you know, St. James, I have half a strange idea that there is a renewal in that quarter?'

'So they say,' said the Duke; 'if so, I confess I am surprised.' But they remembered Lord Darrell, and the conversation turned.

'Those are clever horses of Lincoln Graves,' said Mr. Annesley.

'Neat cattle, as Bagshot says,' observed Lord Squib.

'Is it true that Bag is going to marry one of the Wrekins?' asked the Duke.

'Which?' asked Lord Squib; 'not Sophy, surely I thought she was to be your cousin. I dare say,' he added, 'a false report. I suppose, to use a Bagshotism, his governor wants it; but I should think Lord Cub would not yet be taken in. By-the-bye, he says you have promised to propose him at White's, St. James.'

'Oppose him, I said,' rejoined the Duke. 'Bag really never understands English. However, I think it as probable that he will lounge there as on the Treasury bench. That was his "governor's" last shrewd plan.'

'Darrell,' said Lord Squib, 'is there any chance of my being a commissioner for anything? It struck me last night that I had never been in office.'

'I do not think, Squib, that you ever will be in office, if even you be appointed.'

'On the contrary, my good fellow, my punctuality should surprise you. I should like very much to be a lay lord, because I cannot afford to keep a yacht, and theirs, they say, are not sufficiently used, for the Admirals think it spooney, and the landlubbers are always sick.'

'I think myself of having a yacht this summer,' said the Duke of St.

James. 'Be my captain, Squib.'

'If you be serious I will commence my duties tomorrow.'

'I am serious. I think it will be amusing. I give you full authority to do exactly what you like, provided, in two months' time, I have the crack vessel in the club.'

'I begin to press. Annesley, your dinner is so good that you shall be purser; and Darrell, you are a man of business, you shall be his clerk.

For the rest, I think St. Maurice may claim a place, and----'

'Peac.o.c.k Piggott, by all means,' said the Duke. 'A gay sailor is quite the thing.'

'And Charles Fitzroy,' said Annesley, 'because I am under obligations to him, and promised to have him in my eye.'

'And Bagshot for a b.u.t.t,' said the Duke.

'And Backbite for a buffoon,' said Mr. Annesley.

'And for the rest,' said the young Duke, 'the rest of the crew, I vote, shall be women. The Dalmaines will just do.'

'And the little Trevors,' said Lord Darrell.

'And Long Harrington,' said Lord Squib. 'She is my beauty.'

'And the young Ducie,' said Annesley. 'And Mrs. Dallington of course, and Caroline St. Maurice, and Charlotte Bloomerly; really, she was dressed most prettily last night; and, above all, the queen bee of the hive, May Dacre, eh! St. James? And I have another proposition,' said Annesley, with unusual animation. 'May Dacre won the St. Leger, and ruled the course; and May Dacre shall win the cup, and rule the waves.

Our yacht shall be christened by the Lady Bird of Yorkshire.'

'What a delightful thing it would be,' said the Duke of St. James, 'if, throughout life, we might always choose our crew; cull the beauties, and banish the bores.'

'But that is impossible,' said Lord Darrell. 'Every ornament of society is counterbalanced by some accompanying blur. I have invariably observed that the ugliness of a chaperon is exactly in proportion to the charms of her charge; and that if a man be distinguished for his wit, his appearance, his style, or any other good quality, he is sure to be saddled with some family or connection, who require all his popularity to gain them a pa.s.sport into the crowd.'

'One might collect an unexceptionable coterie from our present crowd,'

said Mr. Annesley. 'It would be curious to a.s.semble all the pet lambs of the flock.'

'Is it impossible?' asked the Duke.

'Burlington is the only man who dare try,' said Lord Darrell.

'I doubt whether any individual would have sufficient pluck,' said Lord Squib.

'Yes,' said the Duke, 'it must, I think, be a joint-stock company to share the glory and the odium. Let us do it!'

There was a start, and a silence, broken by Annesley in a low voice:

'By Heavens it would be sublime, if practicable; but the difficulty does indeed seem insurmountable.'

'Why, we would not do it,' said the young Duke, 'if it were not difficult. The first thing is to get a frame for our picture, to hit upon some happy pretence for a.s.sembling in an impromptu style the young and gay. Our purpose must not be too obvious. It must be something to which all expect to be asked, and where the presence of all is impossible; so that, in fixing upon a particular member of a family, we may seem influenced by the wish that no circle should be neglected.

Then, too, it should be something like a water-party or a fete champetre, where colds abound and fits are always caught, so that a consideration for the old and the infirm may authorise us not to invite them; then, too----'

_Omnes_. 'Bravo! bravo! St. James. It shall be! it shall be!'