e rest of the
night--a circumstance which made the party go off much more pleasantly.
After dinner, the conversation, quite that of single men, easy and
_debonnair_, glanced from the turf, and the ballet, and the last scandal,
toward politics; for the times were such that politics were discussed
every where, and three of the young lords were county members.

Randal said little, but, as was his wont, listened attentively; and he was
aghast to find how general was the belief that the government was doomed.
Out of regard to him, and with that delicacy of breeding which belongs to
a certain society, nothing personal to Egerton was said, except by Avenel,
who, however, on blurting out some rude expressions respecting that
minister, was instantly checked by the Baron.

"Spare my friend, and Mr. Leslie's near connection," said he, with a
polite but grave smile.

"Oh," said Avenel, "public men, whom we pay, are public property--aren't
they, my lord?" appealing to Spendquick.

"Certainly," said Spendquick, with great spirit--"public property, or why
should we pay them? There must be a very strong motive to induce us to do
that! I hate paying people. In fact," he subjoined, in an aside, "I never
do!"

"However," resumed Mr. Avenel. graciously, "I don't want to hurt your
feelings, Mr. Leslie. As to the feelings of our host, the Baron, I
calculate that they have got tolerably tough by the exercise they have
gone through."

"Nevertheless," said the Baron, joining in the laugh which any lively
saying by the supposed X. Y. was sure to excite--"nevertheless, 'love me,
love my dog,' love me, love my Egerton."

Randal started, for his quick ear and subtle intelligence caught something
sinister and hostile in the tone with which Levy uttered this equivocal
comparison, and his eye darted toward the Baron. But the Baron had bent
down his face, and was regaling himself upon an olive.

By-and-by the party rose from table. The four young noblemen had their
engagements elsewhere, and proposed to separate without re-entering the
drawing-room. As, in Goethe's theory, monads which have affinities with
each other are irresistibly drawn together, so these gay children of
pleasure had, by a common impulse, on rising from table, moved each to
each, and formed a group round the fire-place. Randal stood a little
apart, musing; the wit examined the pictures through his eye-glass; and
Mr. Avenel drew the Baron toward the sideboard, and there held