d
half a mind to pull you in, but I know you do not much admire Piggott.'

'On the contrary, I have been in Piggott's company without being much
offended.'

'I think Piggott improves,' said Lord Darrell. 'It was those waistcoats
which excited such a prejudice against him when he first came over.'

'What! a prejudice against Peacock Piggott!' said Lord Squib; 'pretty
Peacock Piggott! Tell it not in Gath, whisper it not in Ascalon; and,
above all, insinuate it not to Lady de Courcy.'

'There is not much danger of my insinuating anything to her,' said Mr.
Annesley.

'Your compact, I hope, is religiously observed,' said the Duke.

'Yes, very well. There was a slight infraction once, but I sent Charles
Fitzroy as an ambassador, and war was not declared.'

'Do you mean,' asked Lord Squib, 'when your cabriolet broke down before
her door, and she sent out to request that you would make yourself quite
at home?'

'I mean that fatal day,' replied Mr. Annesley. 'I afterwards discovered
she had bribed my tiger.'

'Do you know Eugenie's sister, St. James?' asked Lord Darrell.

'Yes: she is very clever; very popular at Paris. But I like Eugenie,
because she is so good-natured. Her laugh is so hearty.'

'So it is,' said Lord Squib. 'Do you remember that girl at Madrid,
Annesley, who used to laugh so?'

'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 ambassador 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
scrape 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 _bouleversement_ for advice, as I have the reputation of