THE SECRET OVERHEARD BY THE FOOTMAN 73 



" The very man," exclaimed Lord Mervyn. " We owe him 

 a turn of favour (although we did help his father to the peerage) 

 for his staunch adherence to our party ; he is just the man — tall, 

 very handsome — with highly polished manners and address, 

 devoted to the ladies ; in short, the very person to captivate a 

 young, unsophisticated country girl." 



" Then your lordship could invite him down at once, and 

 ask the Harcourts to spend a few days at Marston, before Lord 

 Malcolm arrives. A few walks and rides with Lord Vancourt 

 as her companion, and the many opportunities which will be 

 afforded him, when under the same roof, of paying uninterrupted 

 attention to the young lady, will, I have little doubt, finish the 

 business off-hand, particularly if you play your cards cleverly 

 with old Harcourt, and represent Lord Vancourt as a man of 

 substance, &c." 



" It shall be done, Yernon, without delay, and you must 

 come here also to help in playing out the comedy." 



" Tragedy, more likely," added Harper, with a laugh, " for 

 Lord Vancourt is as bad-tempered and debauched a fellow as 

 any man about town, and devilish hard up for cash too ! I 

 only hope Harcourt won't find him out till after church time, 

 that's all. Hah ! hah !" 



"We will try and exhibit the picture in the best light, 

 shading his imperfections from view as much as possible," said 

 Lord Mervyn. " But Vancourt must strike whilst the iron is 



hot " which last sentence was escaping his lordship's lips, 



when one of the footmen entered the room, with that noise- 

 less step peculiar to London-trained servants, and stood as if 

 awaiting orders. 



" What the devil do you stand there for 1 " demanded 

 Lord Mervyn, in a rage. 



" I thought the dining-room bell rang, my lord," replied the 

 man, very gravely. 



"No, sir, it did not; and I'll thank you to make sure it 

 does, another time, before you dare present yourself in my 

 presence without being summoned." 



The servant bowed low and withdrew, but as he shut the 

 door, a slight curl played for a moment round his upper lip ; in 

 the next, the cold, apathetic look resumed its place. 



" Hang that fellow ! " exclaimed Vernon ; " he must have 

 heard your lordship's last remarks." 



" What if he did 1 It was only a common-place obsci * 

 vation." 



