"Oh, I'm an outcast now. No one would look at me." "Don't be a humbug, George. Go and see Mrs. Pocklington, and, for heaven's sake let me get to my work." It was Mr. Blodwell's practice to inveigle people into long gossips, and then abuse them for wasting his time; so George was not disquieted by the reproach. But he took the advice, and called in Grosvenor Square. He found Mrs. Pocklington in, but she was not alone. Her visitor was a very famous person, hitherto known to George only by repute,--the Marquis of Mapledurham. The Marquis was well known on the turf and also as a patron of art, but it is necessary to add that more was known of him than was known to his advantage. In fact, he gave many people the opportunity of saying they would not count him among their acquaintances; and he gave very few of them the chance of breaking their word. He and Mrs. Pocklington amused one another, and, whatever he did, he never said anything that was open to complaint. For some time George talked to Laura. Laura, having once come over to his side, was full of a convert's zeal, and poured abundant oil and wine into his wounds. "How could I ever have looked at Isabel Bourne when she was there?" he began to think. "Mr. Neston," said Mrs. Pocklington, "Lord Mapledurham wants to know whether you are _the_ Mr. Neston." "Mrs. Pocklington has betrayed me, Mr. Neston," said the Marquis. "I am one of the two Mr. Nestons, I suppose," said George, smiling. "Mr. George Neston?" asked the Marquis. "Yes." "And you let him come here, Mrs. Pocklington?" "Ah, you know my house is a caravanserai. I heard you remark it yourself the other day." "I shall go," said the Marquis, rising. "And, Mrs. Pocklington, I shall be content if you say nothing worse of my house. Good-bye, Miss Laura. Mr. Neston, I shall have a small party of bachelors to-morrow. It will be very kind if you will join us. Dinner at eight." "See what it is to be an abused man," said Mrs. Pocklington, laughing. "In these days the wicked must stand shoulder to shoulder," said the Marquis. George accepted; in truth, he was rather flattered. And Mrs. Pocklington went away for quite a quarter of an hour. So that, altogether, he returned to the opinion that life is worth living, before he left the house. CHAPTER X. REMINISCENCES OF A NOBLEMAN.