or all she knows, might be claimed
as a right. Imagine a woman saying this!"

"It is like asking me for the key of my writing-desk to see if I have
not some paper or letter there, that might, if published, give me grave
inconvenience."

"I have often heard of her eccentricities and absurdities, but on this
occasion I believe she has actually outdone herself. I suppose, though
this appeal is made to us conjointly, as it is addressed to me, I am the
proper person to reply to it."

"Certainly, my Lady."

"And I may say--Lord Culduff feels shocked equally with myself at the
indelicacy of the step you have just taken; failing to respect the tie
which connects you with our family, you might, he opines, have had some
regard for the decencies which regulate social intercourse, and while
bearing our name, not have ranked yourself with those who declare
themselves our enemies. I may say this, I may tell her that her conduct
is shameless, an outrage on all feeling, and not only derogatory to her
station, but unwomanly?"

"I don't think I 'd say that," said he, with a faint simper, while he
patted his hand with a gold paper-knife. "I opine the better way would
be to accept her Ladyship's letter as the most natural thing in life
_from her_; that she had preferred a request, which coming from _her_,
was all that was right and reasonable. That there was something very
noble and very elevated in the way she could rise superior to personal
interests, and the ties of kindred, and actually assert the claims of
mere justice; but I'd add that the decision could not lie with us--that
your brother being the head of the family, was the person to whom the
request must be addressed, and that we would, with her permission,
charge ourselves with the task. Pray hear me out--first of all, we have
a delay while she replies to this, with or without the permission we ask
for; in that interval you can inform your brother that a very serious
plot is being concerted against him; that your next letter will fully
inform him as to the details of the conspiracy--your present advice
being simply for warning, and then, when, if she still persist, the
matter must be heard, it will be strange if Augustus shall not have come
to the conclusion that the part intended for him is a very contemptible
one--that of a dupe."

"Your Lordship's mode may be more diplomatic; mine would be more
direct."

"Which is exactly its demerit, my Lady," said he, with one of hi