oed by Lord de Mowbray, and
backed up with a faint bravo from Lord Marney.

Then arose a conversation in which all affected much interest respecting
the Jamaica debate; whether the whigs had originally intended to resign;
whether it were Lord Melbourne or Lord John who had insisted on the
step; whether if postponed they could have tided over the session; and
so on. Tadpole, who was somewhat earnest in his talk, seemed to have
pinned the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine; Lord Marney who wanted to say a word
alone to Lord de Mowbray had dexterously drawn that personage aside on
the pretence of looking at a picture. Tadpole, who had a most frank and
unsophisticated mien had an eye for every corner of a room, seized the
opportunity for which he had been long cruising. "I don't pretend to be
behind the scenes, duke; but it was said to me to-day, 'Tadpole, if you
do chance to see the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine you may say that positively
Lord Killcroppy will not go to Ireland.'"

A smile of satisfaction played over the handsome face of the
duke--instantly suppressed lest it might excite suspicion; and then with
a friendly and very significant nod that intimated to Tadpole not to
dwell on the subject at the present moment, the duke with a rather
uninterested air recurred to the Jamaica debate, and soon after appealed
on some domestic point to his son-in-law. This broke up the conversation
between Lord de Mowbray and Lord Marney. Lord de Mowbray advancing was
met accidentally on purpose by Mr Tadpole, who seemed anxious to push
forward to Lord Marney.

"You have heard of Lord Ribbonville?" said Tadpole in a suppressed tone.

"No; what?"

"Can't live the day out. How fortunate Sir Robert is! Two garters to
begin with!"

Tadpole had now succeeded in tackling Lord Marney alone; the other peers
were far out of ear-shot. "I don't pretend to be behind the scenes, my
Lord," said the honest gentleman in a peculiarly confidential tone, and
with a glance that spoke volumes of state secrecy; "but it was said to
me to-day, 'Tadpole, if you do chance to meet Lord Marney, you may say
that positively Lord Rambrooke will not have the Buck-hounds.'"

"All I want," said Lord Marney, "is to see men of character about her
Majesty. This is a domestic country, and the country expects that no
nobleman should take household office whose private character is not
inexpugnable. Now that fellow Rambrooke keeps a French woman. It is not
much known, but it is a f