He had long been
anxious that his sister should make a wealthy marriage, for her debts
and difficulties annoyed him; and he felt that if she were well
married, he would be able to borrow money of her, instead of being
pestered by her applications for assistance.
Miss Graham was doomed to endure a disappointment. Lord Sumner Howden
was one of the few gentleman upon whom iced champagne and moselle had
produced anything but an exhilarating effect. He was dull and stupid,
pallid and sleepy; like some great, greedy school-boy who has over-
eaten himself, and is suffering the consequences of his gluttony.
The fair Lydia had the mortification of hearing him tell one of the
grooms to put him into a close carriage, where he could have a nap on
his way home.
Reginald Eversleigh took the lordling's seat in the barouche, which was
the first in the line of carriages for the homeward journey, in spite
of Honoria's entreaties to Victor Carrington. The young man was almost
as dull and stupid, to all appearance, as Lord Sumner Howden; but,
although he had been drinking deeply, intoxication had nothing to do
with his gloomy silence.
He knew that Carrington's scheme had been ripening day by day; and he
knew also that within a few hours the final blow was to be struck. He
did not know the nature of that intended stroke of treachery; but he
was aware that it would involve misery and humiliation for Sir Oswald,
utter ruin and disgrace for Honoria.
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