Also, the best friends I had in the prosecution of my tender suit were
the Countess's noble relatives; who were far from knowing the service
that they did me, and to whom I beg leave to tender my heartfelt thanks
for the abuse with which they then loaded me! and to whom I fling
my utter contempt for the calumny and hatred with which they have
subsequently pursued me.

The chief of these amiable persons was the Marchioness of Tiptoff,
mother of the young gentleman whose audacity I had punished at Dublin.
This old harridan, on the Countess's first arrival in London,
waited upon her, and favoured her with such a storm of abuse for her
encouragement of me, that I do believe she advanced my cause more than
six months' courtship could have done, or the pinking of a half-dozen
of rivals. It was in vain that poor Lady Lyndon pleaded her entire
innocence and vowed she had never encouraged me. 'Never encouraged him!'
screamed out the old fury; 'didn't you encourage the wretch at Spa,
during Sir Charles's own life? Didn't you marry a dependant of yours to
one of this profligate's bankrupt cousins? When he set off for England,
didn't you follow him like a mad woman the very next day? Didn't he
take lodgings at your very door almost--and do you call this no
encouragement? For shame, madam, shame! You might have married my
son--my dear and noble George; but that he did not choose to interfere
with your shameful passion for the beggarly upstart whom you caused to
assassinate him; and the only counsel I have to give your Ladyship
is this, to legitimatise the ties which you have contracted with this
shameless adventurer; to make that connection legal which, real as it is
now, is against both decency and religion; and to spare your family and
your son the shame of your present line of life.'

With this the old fury of a marchioness left the room, and Lady Lyndon
in tears: I had the whole particulars of the conversation from her
Ladyship's companion, and augured the best result from it in my favour.

Thus, by the sage influence of my Lady Tiptoff, the Countess of Lyndon's
natural friends and family were kept from her society. Even when Lady
Lyndon went to Court the most august lady in the realm received her with
such marked coldness, that the unfortunate widow came home and took to
her bed with vexation. And thus I may say that Royalty itself became
an agent in advancing my suit, and helping the plans of the poor Irish
soldier of for