egree of
self-satisfaction that lighted up all his features.

"You 're not one of the fa-family, are you?" asked he.

"I have not that honor," said the Prince, with a bow.

"I thought not. I suspected that there was a tw-tw-twang in your English
that looked foreign, but I know your face quite well."

The Duke bowed again.

"Pretty rooms, these," said Purvis, with his glass to his eye; "what
a d-d-deal of money they must have cost! They 're going it fast, these
Onslows."

"Indeed!" said the Prince, who only half understood the remark.

"I know it," said Scroope, with a confidential wink. "Their butcher
se-se-serves us, and he won't give anything till they have sent their
orders; and as for wine, they drink Bordeaux in the servants' hall.
I don't know what you have, but a d-d-deuced sight better than ever I
get."

"Good wine, however, can be had here, I hope," said the Duke, blandly.

"Yes, if you sm-sm-smuggle it," said Scroope, with a knowing cackle;
while, to add poignancy to the remark, he nudged the Prince with his
elbow. "That's the only way to have it. The st-stupid Government sees
nothing."

"Is that the case, sir?" asked the Prince, with a degree of interest he
had not manifested before.

"To be sure it is. My sister Zoe never pays duty on anything; and if
you like your c-c-cigars cheap, just t-t-tell me, that 's all. The
G-G-Grand-Duke never got a sixpence of my money yet, and if I kn-know
myself, he never shall."

"Do you bear him any grudge, sir, that you say this so emphatically?"

"No; not at all. They tell me that he's good-hearted, although somewhat
we-weak in the a-a-attic story," and here Scroope tapped his forehead
significantly, "but that 's in the family. My sister Zoe could tell you
such st-stories about them you 'd die of laughing; and then there
's Jekyl takes them off so well! It's c-c-capital fun. He gives a
dia-dia-dialogue between the Grand-Duke and the Pope's Nuncio that's
better than a farce."

How far Mr. Purvis might have been carried in his zeal to be agreeable
there is no saying, when Lady Hester came up, with Kate leaning on her
arm.

"This gentleman claims acquaintance with you, Miss Dalton," said she,
haughtily.

"Oh, to be sure, she knows me; and I have a letter from her her
fa-father," said Purvis, drawing forth a packet like a postman's.

"Miss Dalton would prefer being seated, sir," said Lady Hester, while
she motioned towards another part of the room.

"Ye