etwode. 'I only hope Jack
Wilson will take care of poor Fanny. I did not half like leaving her.
Your Grace does not join us?'

'I mean to do so; but I am, unfortunately, a late riser.'

'Hem!' said Sir Tichborne. The monosyllable meant much.

'I have a horse which I think will suit your Grace,' said Mr. Dacre,
'and to which, in fact, you are entitled, for it bears the name of your
house. You have ridden Hauteville, Sir Tichborne?'

'Yes; fine animal!'

'I shall certainly try his powers,' said the Duke. 'When is your next
field-day?'

'Thursday,' said Sir Tichborne; 'but we shall be too early for you, I am
afraid,' with a gruff smile.

'Oh, no!' said the young Duke, who saw his man; 'I assure you I have
been up to-day nearly two hours. Let us get on.'

The first person that his Grace's eye met, when he entered the room in
which they assembled before dinner, was Mrs. Dallington Vere.

Dinner was a favourite moment with the Duke of St. James during this
visit at Castle Dacre, since it was the only time in the day that,
thanks to his rank, which he now doubly valued, he could enjoy a
tete-a-tete with its blooming mistress.

'I am going to hunt,' said the Duke, 'and I am to ride Hauteville. I
hope you will set me an example on Thursday, and that I shall establish
my character with Sir Tichborne.'

'I am to lead on that day a bold band of archers. I have already too
much neglected my practising, and I fear that my chance of the silver
arrow is slight.'

'I have betted upon you with everybody,' said the Duke of St. James.

'Remember Doncaster! I am afraid that May Dacre will again be the
occasion of your losing your money.'

'But now I am on the right side. Together we must conquer.'

'I have a presentiment that our union will not be a fortunate one.'

'Then I am ruined,' said his Grace with rather a serious tone.

'I hope you have not really staked anything upon such nonsense?' said
Miss Dacre.

'I have staked everything,' said his Grace.

'Talking of stakes,' said Lord St. Jerome, who pricked up his ears at
a congenial subject, 'do you know what they are going to do about that
affair of Anderson's?'

'What does he say for himself?' asked Sir Chetwode.

'He says that he had no intention of embezzling the money, but that, as
he took it for granted the point could never be decided, he thought it
was against the usury laws to allow money to lie idle.'

'That fellow has always got an answer,' said Sir