“Suspect! But since you only _suspect_,” said Beauclerc, “we English do not condemn on suspicion, unheard, unseen.” “Not unheard,” said the general, “I have heard enough of him.” “From the reports of his enemies,” said Beauclerc. “I do not usually form my judgment,” replied the general, “from reports either of friends or enemies; I have not the honour of knowing any of Lord Beltravers’ enemies.” “Enemies of Lord Beltravers!” exclaimed Lady Davenant. “What right as he to enemies as if he were a great man?--a person of whom nobody ever heard, setting up to have enemies! But now-a-days, these candidates for fame, these would-be celebrated, set up their enemies as they would their equipages, on credit--then, by an easy process of logic, make out the syllogism thus:--Every great man has enemies, therefore, every man who has enemies must be great--hey, Beauclerc?” Beauclerc vouchsafed only a faint, absent smile, and, turning to his guardian, asked--“Since Lord Beltravers was not to be allowed the honours of enemies, or the benefit of pleading prejudice, on what _did_ the general form his judgment?” “From his own words.” “Stay judgment, my dear general,” cried Beauclerc; “words repeated! by whom?” “Repeated by no one--heard from himself, by myself.” “Yourself! I was not aware you had ever met;--when? where?” Beauclerc started forward on his chair, and listened eagerly for the answer. “Pity!” said Lady Davenant, speaking to herself,--“pity! that ‘with such quick affections kindling into flame,’ they should burn to waste.” “When, where?” repeated Beauclerc, with his eyes fixed on his guardian, and his soul in his eyes. Soberly and slowly his guardian answered, and categorically,--“When did I meet Lord Beltravers? A short time before his father’s death.--Where? At Lady Grace Bland’s.” “At Lady Grace Bland’s!--where he could not possibly appear to advantage! Well, go on, sir.” “One moment--pardon me, Beauclerc; I have curiosity as well as yourself. May I ask why Lord Beltravers could not possibly have appeared to advantage at Lady Grace Bland’s?” “Because I know he cannot endure her; I have heard him, speaking of her, quote what Johnson or somebody says of Clariss--‘a prating, preaching, frail creature.’” “Good!” said the general, “he said this of his own aunt!” “Aunt! You cannot mean that Lady Grace is his aunt?” cried Beauclerc. “She is his mother’s sister,” replied the general, “and therefore is, I conceive, his aunt.” “Be it so,” cried Beauclerc; “people must tell the truth sometimes, even of their own relations; they must know it best, and therefore I conclude that what Beltravers said of Lady Grace is true.” “Bravo! well jumped to a conclusion, Granville, as usual,” said Lady Davenant, “But go on, general, tell us what you have heard from this precious lord; can you have better than what Beauclerc, his own witness, gives in evidence?”