This, together with much more pompous sentimentality of the same kind, his lordship would utter when an unusual number of letters were brought to him. On the morning to which we now refer the number of letters was great, and they were spread on the table by his important lordship's own right honorable hands. The contents of some he anticipated, and of others he uttered his conjectures. "Oh! here are two from Smatterton," exclaimed his lordship: "one, I see, is from Kipperson: that Kipperson is really a man of some talent; he has very just views of things. This letter from Kipperson is of course on private business, which must be postponed to the more important affairs which concern the destiny of the empire. But from whom can this other letter come? I have no other correspondent there, except my cousin Letitia, and this is not her writing." Then his lordship looked very knowingly at the letter again. But all this speechification was perfectly needless; for if he wished to know from whom the letter came, he had nothing to do but to open it; and till he did open it he was not likely to know anything about it. After a full share of idle wonderment, his lordship took the envelope off the mysterious letter, and found that it was addressed to Mr Primrose. Thereat his lordship was angry, and expressed great astonishment at the liberty thus taken with his right honorable name. On looking again at the cover he discerned a few lines of apology, bearing the signature of Robert Darnley, and stating that the liberty had been taken because the writer did not know the gentleman's address, and because he also understood that Mr Primrose's daughter was under his lordship's roof. "And how am I to know the gentleman's address?" exclaimed his lordship with a most magnificent air. But the Countess, who had been informed by Lord Spoonbill that Penelope had the intention of returning to undergo her ladyship's patronage, did not feel quite so angry as her lord, but suggested that the young lord had seen Mr Primrose, and knew the name of the hotel where he lodged. "Certainly," said Lord Spoonbill, "I will take care of it." And he forthwith laid hands upon the letter. Lord Smatterton then added, "I beg that Mr Primrose may be immediately recommended to make known his address to Mr Darnley, that this liberty may not be taken again."