"Getting out of de way," quickly interrupted the Comtesse, who had the happy knack of cutting all long speeches short, "_milles graces_:" and she glided past him with a sliding bow, adding aside to Lord Baskerville, "I would always make my best thanks to him for dat; he is quite a dullification. _Mais voilà du nouveau_," she went on to say, in the same breath, looking towards Lady Glenmore and Mr. Leslie Winyard, who were still conversing; "dat is always de way with your English virtuosos; dey go _grand train_ when dey do go. You are an odd people altogether; always _en caricatura_. _Et le mari farouche apprivoisé!_ quite used to it already! Well, he is more sensible dan I took him for; _vogue la galère_." And by this time she had approached close to Lady Glenmore with her sliding step.--"I wished to make you my courtesy, and pay you my compliments on the brilliancy of your _soirée_; and I am happy to see you did not suffer more from your indisposition at the drawing-room. Indeed, I am sure you could not, for I never saw you looking more _triomphante_ than to-night. That heat was enough to kill one; but you had only a _vapeur_; and I assure you it was quite becoming: was it not, Lord Baskerville?" "Oh, done in excellent style, as all that Lady Glenmore does must be--a-hem! quite in good taste; no distortions or hysterics or vulgar violences; all suavity and gentleness--a-hem! never saw so beautiful a specimen of feint in my life--hem!" At that moment Lord D'Esterre came up to make his bow to Lady Glenmore, and the Comtesse Leinsengen walked abruptly away, saying, "De very sight of dat man gives me what you call de blue and de green devils." But Lady Hamlet Vernon was quite of a different opinion; she had long been a fixture in the door-way, looking anxiously for his arrival. It was late when he came, and she sought to attract his attention, and engage him in conversation. Solicitous as she was to learn the cause of his having left her in such an unaccountable manner in Cleveland-row, she did not immediately enter upon that subject, but said something expressive of a general interest in his welfare, and of concern at seeing him look unwell. He eluded her inquiries, and professed being in perfect health; but she was evidently aware that his mind had undergone some sudden change since she had seen him at the drawing-room, for he no longer spoke in the abstracted manner he had done when there, but joined with an apparent animation and interest in a conversation which she dexterously led to topics that she knew to be most in accordance with his tastes and habits, and particularly so when he was depressed and under the influence of blighted feelings; at which times he never failed to seek refuge in dreams of ambition and power.