'I was but marking the game and scoring points to your ladyship,' Wogan said. Colonel Montague had heard Lady Mary's sally, for he stopped. Lord Sidney Beauclerk had heard it, for he rose as though to mark his disbelief, and handed Lady Oxford to her chair with a sort of air of protection very pretty in the boy. It seemed, indeed, as though even Lady Oxford was touched, for her face was half turned towards Mr. Wogan, and he saw it soften with something like pity and her eyes swam for an instant in tears. It was new, no doubt, for the spider to feel compassion for the fly, but Mr. Wogan was not altogether surprised, for he began to find the fly very much to his own taste. It was a clean-limbed, generous lad, that looked mighty handsome in the bravery of his pink satin coat, and without one foppish affectation from his top-knot to his shoe-buckles. Mr. Wogan was still holding the pack of cards in his hands. 'You have a mind to play? 'asked Lady Mary. Wogan looked at the clock. He had only fifteen minutes for his business as lightning conductor. In fifteen minutes the Parson would be here. 'If you will present me to the player I have a mind to play with,' said he, dropping the pack on the table. 'With all my heart,' said she; 'name him.' 'Colonel Montague.' Her ladyship looked at Wogan doubtfully, and beckoned the Colonel with her fan. The Colonel, who had his own feud with Lady Mary over the supposed authorship of the ballad, made as though he had not seen her summons. Lady Mary repeated it with no better result, and finally took a step or two towards him. Montague could no longer affect to misunderstand. 'I wish to present you to a friend,' she said, as Colonel Montague joined her. 'If your ladyship will excuse me,' said the Colonel coldly, 'I have no taste for the acquaintance of Irish adventurers.' Mr. Wogan was not out of earshot, and laughed gleefully as he caught the insult. Here was his opportunity, come in the nick of time. 'Did anyone mention me?' he said pleasantly, as he came round the card-table. But before the Colonel could answer, or Lady Mary interfere, the servant at the door announced: 'Dr. and Miss Townley!' Wogan's heart gave a leap. He swore beneath his breath. 'Miss Townley?' asked her ladyship, who had caught his oath. 'Is Rose, _the_ Rose,' replied Wogan. Lady Mary knew the ballad, knew who Rose was, and looked perplexed as to why Lady Oxford had asked the girl. Mr. Wogan, on the other hand, was no longer perplexed at all. His doubt was now a certainty. Lady Oxford had prepared a scenic revenge, a _coup de theater_. To this end, and to prove her ignorance of the ballad, she had invited Kelly, Montague, and Rose.