Sir Bloomer had frightful misgivings as to the effects on his costume of the necessary attitude in which carriage exercise must be taken; but in the cause of friendship he was prepared to hazard even a rupture of the most important ties, and he replied heroically, “I’ll see you through it, Bounce; what o’clock is it? Ah! I promised--never mind--they must be disappointed sometimes; and for the sake of your charming niece, I’d go through fire and water a good deal farther than the City. Bounce, Bounce, what an angel that girl is! She mustn’t be told a syllable of this--not a syllable; with me, of course, it’s secret as the grave.” So the pair started, firmly persuaded that not a soul in London, save their two selves, knew a word about the letter, or the will, or the dethronement of poor little Blanche from her pedestal as an heiress. CHAPTER XVIII THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE KEEPING A SECRET--LADY MOUNT HELICON “AT HOME”--A CHAPTER OF FINANCE--WHY LACQUERS WENT TO THE BALL--EXOTICS IN A CONSERVATORY--MRS. BLACKLAMB AND HER CAVALIER--IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES--A LONG WAY OFF, AND FARTHER THAN THAT You must be an individual of an equally sanguine temperament and confiding disposition, if you believe that what you impart to your neighbour in the modern Babylon under seal of the strictest secrecy, might not as well be published in the leading article of the _Times_ newspaper. How “things get about” is one of those inexplicable mysteries for which nobody is able or willing to account. Some people lay it to servants--some to the amiable generosity in imparting information for which the fair sex are so remarkable; the latter, again, say that “every bit of scandal in London originates at those horrid clubs!” but few will allow that Rumour owes a large portion of her ubiquity to that organisation of mankind which makes a secret utterly valueless unless shared with another. What is the use of knowing something we must not tell? In the strictest confidence, of course, it was told us under promise that we would not breathe a syllable to a single soul--we only make an exception in your favour under the same solemn obligation. You, of course, in mysterious conclave with Tom, will bear in mind our prohibition, and, acting as we have done, Tom shall become a party to the treason. Still upon oath, it will not be long, we think, before Jack and Harry are empowered to join chorus, and whilst our cherished mystery becomes patent to the world in general, we ourselves feel completely absolved from the consequences of our breach of trust. In the whole of Lady Mount Helicon’s crowded rooms to-night, we believe Blanche herself is the only person that is not aware of her own precarious position; and the girl, happy in her ignorance, looks brighter and more blooming than usual, though _the world_ will admire her less on this occasion than it has ever done before. Yes, this is one of Lady Mount Helicon’s