"Conceited young ass," said Bradstock. But Bramber was in the House, and was supposed to be doing very well. He had brains, no doubt, and the manner of Oxford (Balliol variety, as aforesaid) sat on him well. He made speeches, and Mr. Mytton congratulated him on one of them. Nothing but his passion for Penelope prevented him being as conceited as Bradstock supposed him to be. But it must be remembered that Bradstock couldn’t make speeches. "I thought I’d come and look you up," said Bramber. "I thought you could tell me something about Lady Penelope." "I can’t," replied Bradstock. "I spend all my afternoons in saying so. I’ve had Rivaulx and Austin de Vere and Gordon here already, and after you go I don’t doubt that Goby or Plant will turn up. How do you get on with Plant? Do you know, Bramber, I believe Plant is the best man of the lot of you." Bramber frowned. "He has an accent that can be cut into slabs, to use his own dialect," said Bramber. "Your own accent is equally disagreeable to an American," said Bradstock, who had been in the United States several times. "I have no accent," said Bramber, haughtily. "Oh," returned Bradstock. "And how do you get along with Plant?" Bramber was obviously more jealous of Plant than any one. But he made a tremendous effort to be fair. "He’s a very able man," he said at last, "but there’s no man I should find it so hard to get on with. He says just what he thinks in the most awful way. And because Lady Penelope said he was not to spend more than twenty-five pounds a week, he is living on ten shillings out of bravado. I hate bravado. He made me dine with him in Soho, and our dinners came to elevenpence each. Where is Lady Penelope?" "I don’t know," said Bradstock. "I didn’t see Plant yesterday," said Bramber, uneasily. "The devil!" "You don’t think?" "I don’t know what to think," said Bradstock, wickedly. "I hear that Jimmy Carew hasn’t been seen for days, either." Bramber fidgeted on his chair. "She _can’t_ marry Carew. He’s a thorough outsider." "Women don’t understand the word, my dear chap. How are you getting on in the House? And have you been motoring with Plant?" "Yes," said Bramber; "we killed three fowls and a dog yesterday. And Plant was fined ten pounds a week ago. He said he would wire to Lady Penelope to know if that was business expenses. I believe he wants to break my neck." "I shouldn’t be surprised," said Bradstock. "Has he gone out alone to-day, do you think? I suppose you know Penelope is doing a lot of it now?" "The devil she is!" said Bramber. "I think I’ll go and look up Plant." Bradstock got some amusement out of the situation, if Titania didn’t. *CHAPTER VI.* Penelope came back to town about a week later and saw every one.