to be done in trade. Ladies do it? Yes; why not
women as well as men? Any one might do it who had money in his pocket
and experience to tell him, or to tell her, what to buy and what to
sell. And the experience, luckily, might be vicarious. At the present
moment half the jewels worn in London were,--if Ferdinand Lopez knew
anything about it,--bought from the proceeds of such commerce. Of
course there were misfortunes. But these came from a want of that
experience which Ferdinand Lopez possessed, and which he was quite
willing to place at the service of one whom he admired so thoroughly
as he did Lady Eustace. Lady Eustace had been charmed, had seen her
way into a new and most delightful life,--but had not yet put any of
her money into the hands of Ferdinand Lopez.

I cannot say that the dinner was good. It may be a doubt whether such
tradesmen as Messrs. Stewam and Sugarscraps do ever produce good
food;--or whether, with all the will in the world to do so, such
a result is within their power. It is certain, I think, that the
humblest mutton chop is better eating than any "Supreme of chicken
after martial manner,"--as I have seen the dish named in a French
bill of fare, translated by a French pastrycook for the benefit
of his English customers,--when sent in from Messrs. Stewam and
Sugarscraps even with their best exertions. Nor can it be said that
the wine was good, though Mr. Sugarscraps, when he contracted for the
whole entertainment, was eager in his assurance that he procured the
very best that London could produce. But the outside look of things
was handsome, and there were many dishes, and enough of servants
to hand them, and the wines, if not good, were various. Probably
Pountney and Gunner did not know good wines. Roby did, but was
contented on this occasion to drink them bad. And everything went
pleasantly, with perhaps a little too much noise;--everything except
the hostess, who was allowed by general consent to be sad and
silent;--till there came a loud double-rap at the door.

"There's papa," said Emily, jumping up from her seat.

Mrs. Dick looked at Lopez, and saw at a glance that for a moment his
courage had failed him. But he recovered himself quickly. "Hadn't you
better keep your seat, my dear?" he said to his wife. "The servants
will attend to Mr. Wharton, and I will go to him presently."

"Oh, no," said Emily, who by this time was almost at the door.

"You didn't expect him,--did you?" asked Dick