COLONEL MORLEY.--"You forget the most eminent of all our connections,-- the one who could indeed strike terror into Downing Street, were his voice to be heard again!" CARR VIPONT.--"Whom do you mean? Ah, I know! Guy Darrell. His wife was a Vipont; and he is not here. But he has long since ceased to communicate with any of us; the only connection that ever fell away from the House of Vipont, especially in a CRISIS like the present. Singular man! For all the use he is to us, he might as well be dead! But he has a fine fortune: what will he do with it?" THE DUCHESS.--"My dear Lady Montfort, you have hurt yourself with that paper cutter." LADY MONTFORT.--"NO, indeed. Hush! we are disturbing Mr. Carr Vipont!" The Duchess, in awe of Carr Vipont, sinks her voice, and gabbles on, whisperously. CARR VIPONT (resuming the subject).--"A very fine fortune: what will he do with it?" COLONEL MORLEY.--"I don't know; but I had a letter from him some months ago." CARR VIPONT.--"You had, and never told me!" COLONEL MORLEY.--"Of no importance to you, my dear Carr. His letter merely introduced to me a charming young fellow,--a kinsman of his own (no Vipont),--Lionel Haughton, son of poor Charlie Haughton, whom you may remember." CARR VIPONT.--"Yes, a handsome scamp; went to the dogs. So Darrell takes up Charlie's son: what! as his heir?" COLONEL MORLEY.--"In his letter to me he anticipated that question in the negative." CARR VIPONT.--"Has Darrell any nearer kinsman?" COLONEL MORLEY.--"Not that I know of." CARR VIPONT.--"Perhaps he will select one of his wife's family for his heir,--a Vipont; I should not wonder." COLONEL MORLEY (dryly).--"I should. But why may not Darrell marry again? I always thought he would; I think so still." CARR VIPONT (glancing towards his own daughter Honoria).--"Well, a wife well chosen might restore him to society, and to us. Pity, indeed, that so great an intellect should be suspended,--a voice so eloquent hushed. You are right; in this CRISIS, Guy Darrell once more in the House of Commons, we should have all we require,--an orator, a debater! Very odd, but at this moment we have no speakers,--WE the Viponts!" COLONEL MORLEY.--"Yourself!" CARR VIPONT.--"You are too kind. I can speak on occasions; but regularly, no. Too much drudgery; not young enough to take to it now. So you think Darrell will marry again? A remarkably fine-looking fellow when I last saw him: not old yet; I dare say well preserved. I wish I had thought of asking him here--Montfort!" (Lord Montfort, with one or two male friends, was passing by towards a billiard-room, opening through a side-door from the regular suite) "Montfort! only think, we forgot to invite Guy Darrell. Is it too late before our party breaks up?" LORD MONTFORT (sullenly).--"I don't choose Guy Darrell to be invited to my house."