“Yes,” replied Lord Doningdale, with a pensive air, “this place is greatly endeared to me. Here his Majesty Louis XVIII., when in England, honoured me with an annual visit. In compliment to him, I sought to model my poor mansion into an humble likeness of his own palace, so that he might as little as possible miss the rights he had lost. His own rooms were furnished exactly like those he had occupied at the Tuileries. Yes, the place is endeared to me--I think of the old times with pride. It is something to have sheltered a Bourbon in his misfortunes.” “It cost _milord_ a vast sum to make these alterations,” said Madame de Ventadour, glancing archly at Maltravers. “Ah, yes,” said the old lord; and his face, lately elated, became overcast--“nearly three hundred thousand pounds: but what then?--_‘Les souvenirs, madame, sont sans prix_!’” “Have you visited Paris since the restoration, Lord Doningdale,” asked Maltravers. His lordship looked at him sharply, and then turned his eye to Madame de Ventadour. “Nay,” said Valerie; laughing, “I did not dictate the question.” “Yes,” said Lord Doningdale, “I have been at Paris.” “His Majesty must have been delighted to return your lordship’s hospitality.” Lord Doningdale looked a little embarrassed, and made no reply, but put his horse into a canter. “You have galled our host,” said Valerie, smiling. “Louis XVIII. and his friends lived here as long as they pleased, and as sumptuously as they could; their visits half ruined the owner, who is the model of a _gentilhomme_ and _preux chevalier_. He went to Paris to witness their triumph; he expected, I fancy, the order of the St. Esprit. Lord Doningdale has royal blood in his veins. His Majesty asked him once to dinner, and, when he took leave, said to him, ‘We are happy, Lord Doningdale, to have thus requited our obligations to your lordship.’ Lord Doningdale went back in dudgeon, yet he still boasts of his _souvenirs_, poor man.” “Princes are not grateful, neither are republics,” said Maltravers. “Ah, who is grateful,” rejoined Valerie, “except a dog and a woman?” Maltravers found himself ushered into a vast dressing-room, and was informed, by a French valet, that in the country Lord Doningdale dined at six--the first bell would ring in a few minutes. While the valet was speaking, Lord Doningdale himself entered the room. His lordship had learned, in the meanwhile, that Maltravers was of the great and ancient commoner’s house whose honours were centred in his brother; and yet more, that he was the Mr. Maltravers whose writings every one talked of, whether for praise or abuse. Lord Doningdale had the two characteristics of a high-bred gentleman of the old school--respect for birth and respect for talent; he was, therefore, more than ordinarily courteous to Ernest, and pressed him to stay some days with so much cordiality, that Maltravers could not but assent. His travelling toilet was scanty, but Maltravers thought little of dress. CHAPTER VIII.