" THE DEVIL IN PETTICOATS." 369 



Lady Fanny Trimmer was not slow to communicate the 

 intelligence received from Lord Henry to her numerous 

 acquaintances; and the news spread quickly through the gay 

 assembly that Lord Ayrshire had been rejected by the heiress. 

 Sir John Martingale having experienced a similar check, which 

 lie attributed to the influence of the marquis, could not forbear 

 expressing his satisfaction at his rival's discomfiture ; and on 

 meeting him, said, " So, Ayrshire, it seems you are on the wrong 

 side of the post yourself, as well as one or two other men, in 

 spite of all your jockeying to hustle and bustle them off the 

 course." 



"I don't comprehend you, Martingale?" 



" Well, then, my lord, it is rumoured you have failed to in- 

 duce Miss Douglas to become Marchioness of Ayrshire." 



"And who, sir, has had the audacity to circulate such a 

 report 1 " inquired the marquis, in a violent passion. 



" It is all over the room, my lord, and no longer a secret." 



" Your authority, sir ? " demanded the marquis, imperiously. 

 That you shall have, my lord, if you will assert it is not true." 



"That is nothing to the purpose, sir. I require your 

 authority." 



" I heard the news from Lady Fanny Trimmer, who was 

 telling it openly," replied the baronet. 



" The devil in petticoats ! " muttered the marquis, as he 

 turned away to find the wholesale retailer of scandal. But his 

 worst fears were realised, when he was referred by that sarcastic- 

 lady to Lord Henry Bayntun, and the look of savage despai 

 with which he received this unlooked-for disclosure from 

 quondam friend, confirmed Lady Fanny's impression that the 

 report was perfectly true. " Ha ! ha ! " she laughed, as the 

 marquis abruptly left her, without a word in return, " the arrow 

 has pierced the bull's eye this time, and the fastidious marquis 

 has fallen by the bow of a simple country maiden." 



Not daring to question Lord Henry, whose pride and 

 quick temper were equal to his own, for fear of a thorough 

 expose of his transactions with Harcourt, Lord Ayrshire quitted 

 the room, and left London a few days after, on a continental 

 tour, ridiculed by all his associates — regretted by none. 



The next day, Malcolm held a long consultation with Lord 

 Henry, who had prevailed on Mangle to accept the thirty thou- 

 sand pounds in satisfaction of his client's claim. 



" It's a hollow thing," said he ; " and my impression is, we 

 could catch this rascal out with a little more trouble." 



