72 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



numerous other items of expenditure contingent thereon, cannot 

 be long kept up." 



" Certainly not ; they must cost a very large sum annually." 



" Exactly so, my lord ; and the Beauchamps are reported to 

 have maintained a hard struggle in supporting their establish- 

 ment hitherto, which cannot last much longer." 



" They are assisted, I am told, by some large subscriptions," 

 observed Lord Mervyn. 



" Nothing very great," replied Yernon, " although the exact 

 sum is known only to the secretary, Conyers, who, being a 

 friend of Will Beauchamp 1 s, will not mention the amount ; at 

 any rate, all agree it is not half what it ought to be. Well, 

 under these circumstances, an additional ten thousand a year 

 would carry the concern on swimmingly, and enable the Beau- 

 champs to keep it up without any subscription at all." 



" Most likely," replied Lord Mervyn. " But where is the 

 ten thousand a year to come from % " 



" Miss Douglas, my lord ; for people say she is much attached 

 to Beauchamp and his sister." 



" Pshaw ! nonsense, Yernon ! Harcourt will never allow 

 her to marry such a man as Mr. Beauchamp." 



" Perhaps not, my lord ; but you forget her aunt, Mrs. 

 Gordon, is equally her guardian, and we all know what a 

 favourite Beauchamp is with her." 



" But I am told," said Lord Mervyn, " that you are in a 

 fair way of winning the prize yourself." 



" No, my lord, my chance is a very poor one ; in fact, Mrs. 

 Harcourt gave me to understand, nothing short of a coronet 

 would do for her niece, and hinted at Lord Malcolm, who is 

 expected soon at Throseby Hall ; but as he is a very slow coach, 

 neither very handsome nor agreeable, I have been thinking, if 

 your lordship knows of any young, good-looking, fascinating 

 sprig of nobility, with more wits than ready cash, you might do 

 him a good turn, by asking him down, about the time of our 

 county ball, when the heiress makes her debut in public, and, a 

 hundred to one, he cuts out Mr. William Beauchamp, and cuts 

 off 2tS\ further support to the fox-hounds." 



" Capital," exclaimed Lord Mervyn, as a sneering smile 

 passed over his cadaverous countenance ; " you are quite a 

 diplomatist, Yernon, and I must get you appointed Secretary to 

 one of our Embassies — really a very good idea ; but let me 

 consider " 



" What do you say to Lord Yancourt 1 " inquired Mr. Harper. 



