"One is almost inclined to think that he deserves her." "I can't agree with you there at all," said the Serjeant angrily. "One at any rate is not astonished that the young lady should think so," continued the Solicitor-General. "Upon my word, I don't know how we are to expect that she should throw her early lover overboard after such evidence of devotion." "The marriage would be too incongruous," said Mr. Hardy. "Quite horrible," said the Serjeant. "It distresses one to think of it," said Mr. Goffe. "It would be much better that she should not be Lady Anna at all, if she is to do that," said Mr. Mainsail. "Very much better," said Mr. Flick, shaking his head, and remembering that he was employed by Lord Lovel and not by the Countess,--a fact of which it seemed to him that the Solicitor-General altogether forgot the importance. "Gentlemen, you have no romance among you," said Sir William. "Have not generosity and valour always prevailed over wealth and rank with ladies in story?" "I do not remember any valorous tailors who have succeeded with ladies of high degree," said Mr. Hardy. "Did not the lady of the Strachy marry the yeoman of the wardrobe?" asked the Solicitor-General. "I don't know that we care much about romance here," said the Serjeant. "The marriage would be so abominable, that it is not to be thought of." "The tailor should at any rate get his money," said the Solicitor-General, "and I will undertake to say that if the case be as represented by Mr. Goffe--" "It certainly is," said the attorney. "Then there will be no difficulty in raising the funds for paying it. If he is not to have his wife, at any rate let him have his money. I think, Mr. Flick, that intimation should be made to him that Earl Lovel will join the Countess in immediate application to the court for means to settle his claim. Circumstanced as we are at present, there can be no doubt that such application will have the desired result. It should, of course, be intimated that Serjeant Bluestone and myself are both of opinion that the money should be allowed for the purpose."