first, but he only wants bringing out."

A dexterous description of one of the most unlicked and unlickable cubs
that ever entered society with forty thousand a year; courted by all,
and with just that degree of cunning that made him suspicious of every
attention.

"This dreadful Lord Huntingford!" said Lady Marney.

"Jermyn and I will intefere," said Egremont, "and help you."

"No, no," said Lady Marney shaking her head, "I must do it."

At this moment, a groom of the chambers advanced and drew Egremont
aside, saying in a low tone, "Your servant, Mr Egremont, is here and
wishes to see you instantly."

"My servant! Instantly! What the deuce can be the matter? I hope the
Albany is not on fire," and he quitted the room.

In the outer hall, amid a crowd of footmen, Egremont recognized his
valet who immediately came forward.

"A porter has brought this letter, sir, and I thought it best to come on
with it at once."

The letter directed to Egremont, bore also on its superscription these
words. "This letter must be instantly carried by the bearer to Mr
Egremont wherever he may be."

Egremont with some change of countenance drew aside, and opening the
letter read it by a lamp at hand. It must have been very brief; but the
face of him to whom it was addressed became, as he perused its lines,
greatly agitated. When he had finished reading it, he seemed for a
moment lost in profound thought; then looking up he dismissed his
servant without instructions, and hastening back to the assembly, he
enquired of the groom of the chambers whether Lord John Russell, whom he
had observed in the course of the evening, was still present; and he was
answered in the affirmative.

About a quarter of an hour after this incident, Lady Firebrace said to
Lady St Julians in a tone of mysterious alarm. "Do you see that?"

"No! what?"

"Do not look as if you observed them: Lord John and Mr Egremont, in
the furthest window, they have been there these ten minutes in the most
earnest conversation. I am afraid we have lost him."

"I have always been expecting it," said Lady St Julians. "He breakfasts
with that Mr Trenchard and does all those sorts of things. Men who
breakfast out are generally liberals. Have not you observed that? I
wonder why?"

"It shows a restless revolutionary mind," said Lady Firebrace, "that can
settle to nothing; but must be running after gossip the moment they are
awake."

"Yes," said Lady St Julians. "I think