they entered the house.

'Alone?' said his lordship.

'Not alone,' said the servant, ushering the friends into the
dining-room, 'but he shall have your lordship's card immediately. There
are several gentlemen waiting in the third drawing-room; so I have shown
your lordship in here, and shall take care that he sees your lordship
before anyone.'

'That's a devilish good fellow,' said Lord Catchimwhocan, putting his
hand into his waistcoat pocket to give him a sovereign; but not finding
one, he added, 'I shall remember you.'

The dining-room into which they were shown was at the back of the house,
and looked into agreeable gardens. The apartment was in some little
confusion at this moment, for their host gave a dinner to-day, and
his dinners were famous. The table was arranged for eight guests; its
appointments indicated refined taste. A candelabrum of Dresden china was
the centre piece; there was a whole service of the same material, even
to the handles of the knives and forks; and the choice variety of glass
attracted Ferdinand's notice. The room was lofty and spacious; it was
simply and soberly furnished; not an object which could distract the
taste or disturb the digestion. But the sideboard, which filled a recess
at the end of the apartment, presented a crowded group of gold plate
that might have become a palace; magnificent shields, tall vases,
ancient tankards, goblets of carved ivory set in precious metal, and
cups of old ruby glass mounted on pedestals, glittering with gems.
This accidental display certainly offered an amusing contrast to the
perpetual splendour of Mr. Levison's buffet; and Ferdinand was wondering
whether it would turn out that there was as marked a difference between
the two owners, when his companion and himself were summoned to the
presence of Mr. Bond Sharpe.

They ascended a staircase perfumed with flowers, and on each
landing-place was a classic tripod or pedestal crowned with a bust. And
then they were ushered into a drawing-room of Parisian elegance; buhl
cabinets, marqueterie tables, hangings of the choicest damask suspended
from burnished cornices of old carving. The chairs had been rifled from
a Venetian palace; the couches were part of the spoils of the French
revolution. There were glass screens in golden frames, and a clock
that represented the death of Hector, the chariot wheel of Achilles
conveniently telling the hour. A round table of mosaic, mounted on a
golden pedestal, wa