on of exciseable articles, I cannot help thinking that affairs
are more serious than you imagine. I know the government are all on the
'qui vive.'"

"Just the fellows we wanted!" exclaimed Lord Fitz-Heron, who was leaning
on the arm of Lord Milford, and who met Mr Egerton and his friend in
Pall Mall.

"We want a brace of pairs," said Lord Milford. "Will you two fellows
pair?"

"I must go down," said Mr Egerton; "but I will pair from halfpast seven
to eleven."

"I just paired with Ormsby at White's," said Berners; "not half an hour
ago. We are both going to dine at Eskdale's, and so it was arranged.
Have you any news to-day?"

"Nothing; except that they say that Alfred Mountchesney is going to
marry Lady Joan Fitz-Warene," said Lord Milford.

"She has been given to so many," said Mr Egerton.

"It is always so with these great heiresses," said his companion. "They
never marry. They cannot bear the thought of sharing their money. I bet
Lady Joan will turn out another specimen of the TABITHA CROESUS."

"Well, put down our pair, Egerton," said Lord Fitz-Heron. "You do not
dine at Sidonia's by any chance?"

"Would that I did! You will have the best dishes and the best guests. I
feed at old Malton's; perhaps a tete a tete: Scotch broth, and to tell
him the news!"

"There is nothing like being a dutiful nephew, particularly when one's
uncle is a bachelor and has twenty thousand a-year," said Lord Milford.
"Au revoir! I suppose there will be no division to-night."

"No chance."

Egerton and Berners walked on a little further. As they came to the
Golden Ball, a lady quitting the shop was just about to get into her
carriage; she stopped as she recognized them. It was Lady Firebrace.

"Ah! Mr Berners, how d'ye do? You were just the person I wanted to see!
How is Lady Augusta, Mr Egerton? You have no idea, Mr Berners, how I
have been fighting your battles!"

"Really, Lady Firebrace," said Mr Berners rather uneasy, for he
had perhaps like most of us a peculiar dislike to being attacked or
cheapened. "You are too good."

"Oh! I don't care what a person's politics are!" exclaimed Lady
Firebrace with an air of affectionate devotion. "I should be very glad
indeed to see you one of us. You know your father was! But if any one
is my friend I never will hear him attacked behind his back without
fighting his battles; and I certainly did fight yours last night."

"Pray tell me where it was?"

"Lady Crumbleford--"

"Co