“Lionel has ridden Hector into Brazencrook,” said his lordship; “he fancies that he must make certain inquiries himself concerning the trains; he finds that it will be necessary for him to be in London to-morrow. It has suddenly occurred to him that he must really get back to India. Queer fellow, Mr. Tallant, my brother.” “So it would appear,” Mr. Tallant replied. “And you are a queer fellow too! Imagine, my love, he had left his luggage at the Verner Arms in Brazencrook, and declined my invitation to dinner. Of course I ordered his luggage to be sent for immediately.” His lordship had done this, not because he had any particular regard for Mr. Tallant, but simply in the hope of pleasing his wife; for, truth to tell, the Earl disliked this fellow, who had been a source of so much sorrow to that poor old man, his father. The dinner was a dull affair, despite Lord Verner’s efforts to make it cheerful. The Countess complained of headache. Mr. Richard Tallant would talk of nothing but money and finance, of foreign bonds and national liabilities, and great houses which were at that moment experiencing the pressure of the panic more than they had felt it when the storm was at its height. Lord Verner thought politics almost as dull a theme as finance; but he was more at home when Mr. Tallant spoke of the probability of a Government crisis, and Lady Verner found that she, too, could say something about Whigs and Tories, Liberals and Radicals; and so by the time the last course was removed a conversation had been started and maintained in which Mr. Tallant did not monopolise all the talking. Lady Verner rose to leave the room much earlier than usual at dessert, and tea was announced before the two gentlemen had well tasted the Earl’s choice old port. “Her ladyship is early to-night,” said Lord Verner. “I suppose she is anxious that we shall come into her dominions as soon as possible.” “Perhaps her ladyship fears you may become a financier, if I am honoured with your society too long over wine,” said Mr. Tallant. “No fear of that,” replied Lord Verner. “Hammerton induced me to invest in some new companies, and I don’t think it at all likely that I shall make such another mistake.” “There are peers of the realm, and cabinet ministers too, bishops also, who have thought it quite legitimate to do a little in finance lately,” said Mr. Tallant; “your lordship might do worse than be at the head of some gigantic company.” “You think so?” said Lord Verner. “I do indeed; rank and fortune, the highest aristocracy in the land, have not thought it _infra dig._ to take part in promoting the commercial prosperity of their country.” “Gigantic companies seem to be gigantic humbugs just now, Mr. Tallant, and I assure you that is not in my line; and so we will in to tea--Lady Verner does not like to be kept waiting.”