And, meanwhile, the parvenu peer, pleased with the delicate beauty of his companion, in whose pale cheeks a little rose-leaf tint now came, with a sparkle in her usually quiet eyes, felt very vain of the handsome girl who leant on his arm, and attracted the admiration of many a passing and many a lingering man, who hovered near to admire her. Among these were two Englishmen, Sir Jasper Dehorsey (a sporting baronet) and his friend, Mr. Tom Hawksleigh, also well-known, and not very reputably, on various racecourses. They seemed to know no one there, and were mere spectators, though doubtless amid that vast throng they might have introduced themselves to some of the fair dominoes without being severely repulsed. Both were in full evening-dress, with loose, light dust coat worn open, and crush hat under the arm; both were gentlemanly in bearing and appearance, and their faces would have been good but for the sinister, rakish, and _blasé_ expression of their eyes, and the sensual and sneering curve of their lips. Sir Jasper, the taller of the two by half a head, stuck his glass in his right eye, and said, 'Tom, look at that girl with the blue velvet hat; she is English--I'll swear she is.' 'And a regular beauty, by Jove!' 'Doocid curious place for her to be, this. She is all right, I suppose; what do you think?' 'I think it doubtful--hails from the latitude of Regent Street, I should say,' replied the other, who thought evil of everyone and everything. 'Who is that _moyen-âge_ individual with the white horse-shoe shaped moustache and coarse ears, who seems to regard her with such a proprietary air?' 'By Jove, it is old Cadbury!' exclaimed Mr. Hawksleigh. 'Cadbury--it is!' added the baronet; 'the little party can't be particular to a shade if she is with _him_. She'll not set much store on the whole duty of woman.' 'What is that?' asked Hawksleigh. 'Why, to get married--to get well married, if possible, but anyhow, to get married on any terms.' 'He is a lord; but a silk purse can't be made out of a sow's ear.' 'I am too poor a devil just now to sneer at his money or position, or, by Jove, I would do so at both. His father was "something" in the city, whatever that means. Let us take the girl from him.' 'All right--I am your man,' exclaimed Hawksleigh. 'He doesn't seem to have even an old woman to play propriety or act chaperon.' 'When did he ever study Mrs. Grundy? But to see such a girl as this with him reminds me of Beauty and the Beast.' 'Her wisdom is no doubt in her dressing-case, and her modesty--well, ah--in her pocket, I suppose. Well, here goes----' 'Stop, don't be too hasty. Ah! the old rip, he doesn't care about acting lotus-eater at Cadbury Court, and so has come abroad with "somebody's luggage." _Who_ can the little girl be?'