"Oh! then my uncle is misinformed. He thought that family was extinct, and lamented over it when we saw the house and place at a distance." Captain Drayton coloured a little above his light yellow moustache. He was no Drayton, but a remotely collateral Smithers, with a queen's letter constituting him a Drayton. "Aw--yes--it is a fine old place--quite misinformed. I can show you our descent if you wish it." If Drayton had collected his ideas a little first he would not have made this condescension. "Your descent is high and pure--_very_ high, I assume--mine is only respectable--presentable, as you say, but by no means so high as to warrant my inquiring into that of other people." "Inquiry! of course. I did not say inquiry," and with an effort Captain Drayton almost laughed. "Nothing more dull," acquiesced Mr. Strangways slightly. Both gentlemen paused--each seemed to expect something from the other--each seemed rather angrily listening for it. The ostensible attack had all been on the part of the gallant Captain, who certainly had not been particularly well bred. The Captain, nevertheless, felt that Mr. Strangways knew perfectly all about Smithers, and that Smithers really had not one drop of the Drayton blood in his veins; and he felt in the sore and secret centre of his soul that the polished, handsome young gentleman, so easy, so graceful, with that suspicion of a foreign accent and of foreign gesture, had the best of the unavowed battle. He had never spoken a word or looked a look in the course of this little dialogue which could have suggested an idea of altercation, or any kind of mutual unpleasantness, to the beautiful young girl; who, with one hand on the keys of the piano, touched them so lightly with her fingers as to call forth a dream of an air rather than the air itself. To her Guy Strangways turned, with his peculiar smile--so winning, yet so deep--an enigmatic smile that had in it a latent sadness and fierceness, and by its very ambiguousness interested one. "I upbraid myself for losing these precious moments while you sit here, and might, perhaps, be persuaded to charm us with another song." So she was persuaded; Captain Drayton still keeping guard, and applauding, though with no special goodwill toward the unoffending stranger. The party broke up early. The ladies trooped to their bed-room candles and ascended the great staircase, chatting harmoniously, and bidding mutual sweet goodnights as in succession they reached their doors. The gentlemen, having sat for awhile lazily about the fire, or gathered round the tray whereon stood sherry and seltzer water, repaired also to the cluster of bedchamber candlesticks without, and helped themselves, talking together in like sociable manner. "Would you like to come to my room and have a cigar, Monsieur Varbarriere?" asked the Baronet in French. Monsieur was much obliged, and bowed very suavely, but declined. "And you, Mr. Strangways?"