Lady Tilney, however, would not suffer the Comtesse to go till she had spoken to her again on the subject of their _soirée_ at Lady de Chere's. "The Duchess of Hermanton's night will be a very good opportunity," she said; "to let the world know that we do not mingle in societies of the kind; all the regulars, as they consider themselves, look upon D'Hermanton House as head-quarters, and make a point of attending like subalterns gaping for promotion; and if we are there it will have the worst possible effect. Then again, such as we choose to invite to Lady de Chere's, will understand what is meant, _sans nous compromettre_, and hold off in future from engagements like the D'Hermanton's. You know it would be unwise and impolitic to impart our intentions to all indiscriminately who compose our circle; but we must at the same time afford some guide for conduct. If we do as I propose the affair will be very well understood, without our being unpleasantly involved, and the system will answer well, n'êtes vous pas de mon avis, chere Comtesse?"--"Peût-être qu'oui," was the Comtesse's answer, accompanied by the habitual shrug of the shoulders; "and," continued Lady Tilney, "I think there was every one at my house the other night who ought to be invited. Shall I send Lady de Chere my list?" "I will see about dat; but first we must know if Miladi vil do as we wish. Laissez-moi faire, j'arrangerai tout ça," and taking Lord Baskerville's arm, she was leaving the box-- "But what shall we do about dat dinner to-morrow, chere Miladi?" she added in a lower tone to Lady Tilney. "Oh go, by all means; he is well enough--will be so pleased that we may do henceforth as we like with him, and it allows others to hope for the same honour." "Vell, den, I vill go--remember Milor you are engaged to me to-morrow." Lord Baskerville made one of his most refined bows. "And who else shall we have?" asked the Comtesse of Lady Tilney. "Oh! I don't know; there are the Boileaus and Lord Gascoyne, and Prince Luttermanne, and Lord Tonnerre." "Dose vill do very well; I vill tell dem if I see dem in de room. Adieu, chere Miladi. Ve shall dine vid you to-morrow, Sir William," she added as she left the box. "I am delighted to hear you say so!" replied the happy Sir William Temple. "May this be true!--O may it--can it be;--Is it by any wonder possible?" whispered Spencer Newcombe, who had heard the Comtesse Leinsengen's last words, and now approached Sir William with affected surprise. "Come, my master; if so, the great ones shall not have you all to themselves," he continued: "I too will dine with you to-morrow. Lady Tilney, are you of the party?" "Yes." "Why, where is the sign now? have ye e'er a calendar--where's the sign, trow you?" Spencer continued saying. "The what?" asked Sir William. "The sign--Believe me there's a most secret power in that! Court any woman in the right sign, Sir William, as you have done, and you shall not miss."