We are, dear sir,
Your very obedient servants,

CAMPERDOWN & SON.

F. Greystock, Esq., M.P.

A few days after the receipt of this letter Frank started for
Scotland.

CHAPTER XXXI

Frank Greystock's Second Visit to Portray

On this occasion Frank Greystock went down to Portray Castle with the
intention of staying at the house during the very short time that he
would remain in Scotland. He was going there solely on his cousin's
business,--with no view to grouse-shooting or other pleasure, and he
purposed remaining but a very short time,--perhaps only one night.
His cousin, moreover, had spoken of having guests with her, in which
case there could be no tinge of impropriety in his doing so. And
whether she had guests, or whether she had not, what difference could
it really make? Mr. Andrew Gowran had already seen what there was
to see, and could do all the evil that could be done. He could, if
he were so minded, spread reports in the neighbourhood, and might,
perhaps, have the power of communicating what he had discovered to
the Eustace faction,--John Eustace, Mr. Camperdown, and Lord Fawn.
That evil, if it were an evil, must be encountered with absolute
indifference. So he went direct to the castle, and was received
quietly, but very graciously, by his cousin Lizzie.

There were no guests then staying at Portray; but that very
distinguished lady, Mrs. Carbuncle, with her niece, Miss Roanoke, had
been there; as had also that very well-known nobleman, Lord George de
Bruce Carruthers. Lord George and Mrs. Carbuncle were in the habit
of seeing a good deal of each other, though, as all the world knew,
there was nothing between them but the simplest friendship. And Sir
Griffin Tewett had also been there, a young baronet who was supposed
to be enamoured of that most gorgeous of beauties, Lucinda Roanoke.
Of all these grand friends,--friends with whom Lizzie had become
acquainted in London,--nothing further need be said here, as they
were not at the castle when Frank arrived. When he came, whether by
premeditated plan or by the chance of circumstances, Lizzie had no
one with her at Portray,--except the faithful Macnulty.

"I thought to have found you with all the world here," said
Frank,--the faithful Macnulty being then present.

"Well,--we have had people, but only for a couple of days. They
are all coming again, but not till November. You hunt;--don't you,
Frank?"

"I have no time for hunting