are
seated two middle-aged gentlemen, who had been conversing with her till
the duchess, having cut in, turned dialogue into monologue.

The elder of these two gentlemen is Mr. Carr Vipont, bald, with clipped
parliamentary whiskers; values himself on a likeness to Canning, but
with a portlier presence; looks a large-acred man. Carr Vipont has about
L40,000 a year; has often refused office for himself, while taking care
that other Viponts should have it; is a great authority in committee
business and the rules of the House of Commons; speaks very seldom, and
at no great length, never arguing, merely stating his opinion, carries
great weight with him, and as he votes vote fifteen other members of
the House of Vipont, besides admiring satellites. He can therefore
turn divisions, and has decided the fate of cabinets. A pleasant man,
a little consequential, but the reverse of haughty,--unctuously
overbearing. The other gentleman, to whom he is listening, is our old
acquaintance Colonel Alban Vipont Morley, Darrell's friend, George's
uncle,--a man of importance, not inferior, indeed, to that of his
kinsman Carr; an authority in clubrooms, an oracle in drawing-rooms, a
first-rate man of the beau monde. Alban Morley, a younger brother, had
entered the Guards young; retired young also from the Guards with the
rank of Colonel, and on receipt of a legacy from an old aunt, which,
with the interest derived from the sum at which he sold his commission,
allowed him a clear income of L1,000 a year. This modest income sufficed
for all his wants, fine gentleman though he was. He had refused to go
into Parliament,--refused a high place in a public department. Single
himself, he showed his respect for wedlock by the interest he took in
the marriages of other people; just as Earl Warwick, too wise to set
up for a king, gratified his passion for royalty by becoming the
king-maker. The Colonel was exceedingly accomplished, a very fair
scholar, knew most modern languages. In painting an amateur, in music a
connoisseur; witty at times, and with wit of a high quality, but thrifty
in the expenditure of it; too wise to be known as a wit. Manly too, a
daring rider, who had won many a fox's brush; a famous deer-stalker,
and one of the few English gentlemen who still keep up the noble art of
fencing,--twice a week to be seen, foil in hand, against all comers in
Angelo's rooms. Thin, well-shaped,--not handsome, my dear young lady,
far from it, but wi