been at an earlier period of her
religious life; and that she had migrated (in spirit) from Clapham to
Knightsbridge--so many wealthy mercantile families have likewise done in
the body. A long strip of embroidery, of the Gothic pattern, furthermore
betrayed her present inclinations; and the person observing these
things, whilst nobody was taking any notice of him, was amused when the
accuracy of his conjectures was confirmed by the reappearance of the
gigantic footman, calling out "'Oneyman," in a loud voice, and preceding
that divine into the room.

"C'est le Directeur. Venez fumer dans ma chambre, Pen," growled Florac
as Honeyman came sliding over the carpet, his elegant smile changing to
a blush when he beheld Clive, his nephew, seated by the Princess's side.
This, then, was the uncle who had spoken about Clive and his father to
Madame de Florac. Charles seemed in the best condition. He held out
two bran-new lavender-coloured kid gloves to shake hands with his dear
Clive; Florac and Mr. Pendennis vanished out of the room as he appeared,
so that no precise account can be given of this affecting interview.

When I quitted the hotel, a brown brougham, with a pair of beautiful
horses, the harness and panels emblazoned with the neatest little ducal
coronets you ever saw, and a cypher under each crown as easy to read as
the arrow-headed inscriptions on one of Mr. Layard's Assyrian chariots,
was in waiting, and I presumed that Madame la Princesse was about to
take an airing.

Clive had passed the avuncular banking-house in the City, without caring
to face his relatives there. Mr. Newcome was now in sole command, Mr.
Barnes being absent at Newcome, the Baronet little likely ever to enter
bank-parlour again. But his bounden duty was to wait on the ladies; and
of course, only from duty's sake, he went the very first day and called
in Park Lane.

"The family was habsent ever since the marriage simminery last week,"
the footman, who had accompanied the party to Baden, informed Clive when
he opened the door, and recognised that gentleman. "Sir Brian pretty
well, thank you, sir. The family was at Brighting. That is Miss Newcome
is in London staying with her grandmamma in Queen Street, Mayfear,
sir." The varnished doors closed upon Jeames within; the brazen knockers
grinned their familiar grin at Clive, and he went down the blank steps
discomfited. Must it be owned that he went to a Club, and looked in
the Directory for the num