At the name of Luttridge, Lady Delacour changed countenance, and she continued silent for some time. Mr. Vincent, attributing her sudden seriousness to dislike or fear of his dog, took him out of the room. “My dear Lady Delacour,” said Belinda, observing that she still retained an air of displeasure, “I hope your antipathy to _odious Mrs. Luttridge_ does not extend to every body who visits her.” “Tout au contraire,” cried Lady Delacour, starting from her reverie, and assuming a playful manner: “I have made a general gaol-delivery of all my old hatreds; and even odious Mrs. Luttridge, though a hardened offender, must be included in this act of grace: so you need not fear that Mr. Vincent should fall under my royal displeasure for consorting with this state criminal. Though I can’t sympathize with him, I forgive him, both for liking that great dog, and that little woman; especially, as I shrewdly suspect, that he likes the lady’s E O table better than the lady.” “E O table! Good Heavens! you do not imagine Mr. Vincent----” “Nay, my dear, don’t look so terribly alarmed! I assure you, I did not mean to hint that there was any serious, _improper_ attachment to the E O table; only a little flirtation, perhaps, to which his passion for you has, doubtless, put a stop.” “I’ll ask him the moment I see him,” cried Belinda, “if he is fond of play: I know he used to play at billiards at Oakly-park, but merely as an amusement. Games of address are not to be put upon a footing with games of hazard.’ “A man may, however, contrive to lose a good deal of money at billiards, as poor Lord Delacour can tell you. But I beseech you, my dear, do not betray me to Mr. Vincent; ten to one I am mistaken, for his great dog put me out of humour----” “But with such a doubt upon my mind, unsatisfied----” “It shall be satisfied; Lord Delacour shall make inquiries for me. Lord Delacour _shall_ make inquiries, did I say?--_will_, I should have said. If Champfort had heard me, to what excellent account he might have turned that unlucky _shall_. What a nice grammarian a woman had need to be, who would live well with a husband inferior to her in understanding! With a superior or an equal, she might use _shall_ and _will_ as inaccurately as she pleases. Glorious privilege! How I shall envy it you, my dear Belinda! But how can you ever hope to enjoy it? Where is your superior? Where is your equal?”