ster! I wager----"

"No, no, no such nonsense," says Jack, rather eagerly. "I give you my
honour, I--I want to--to raise a sum of money--that is, to invest some
in a speculation down here--deuced good the speculations down here;
and, by the way, if the landlord asks you, I'm Mr. Harris--I'm a civil
engineer--I'm waiting for the arrival of the Canada at Liverpool from
America, and very uneasy about my brother who is on board."

"What does he recount to us there? Keep these stories for the landlord,
Jack; to us 'tis not the pain to lie. My good Mr. Harris, why have we
not seen you at Rosebury? The Princess will scold me if you do not come;
and you must bring your dear brother when he arrive too. Do you hear?"
The last part of this sentence was uttered for Mr. Taplow's benefit, who
had re-entered the George bearing a tray of wine and biscuit.

The Master of Rosebury and Mr. Harris went out presently to look at a
horse which was waiting the former's inspection in the stableyard of the
hotel. The landlord took advantage of his business, to hear a bell which
never was rung, and to ask me questions about the guest who had been
staying at his house for a week past. Did I know that party? Mr.
Pendennis said, "Yes, he knew that party."

"Most respectable party, I have no doubt," continues Boniface. "Do you
suppose the Prince of Moncontour knows any but respectable parties?"
asks Mr. Pendennis--a query of which the force was so great as to
discomfit and silence our landlord, who retreated to ask questions
concerning Mr. Harris of Florac's grooms.

What was Highgate's business here? Was it mine to know? I might have
suspicions, but should I entertain them or communicate them, and had I
not best keep them to myself? I exchanged not a word on the subject of
Highgate with Florac, as we drove home: though from the way in which we
looked at one another each saw that the other was acquainted with that
unhappy gentleman's secret. We fell to talking about Madame la Duchesse
d'Ivry as we trotted on; and then of English manners by way of contrast,
of intrigues, elopements, Gretna Grin, etc., etc. "You are a droll
nation!" says Florac. "To make love well, you must absolutely have a
chaise-de-poste, and a scandal afterwards. If our affairs of this kind
made themselves on the grand route, what armies of postillions we should
need!"

I held my peace. In that vision of Jack Belsize I saw misery, guilt,
children dishonoured, homes deserted,-