120 THE MASTER OP THE HOUNDS. 



Lady Yancourt. Why, in Scotland, the thing is settled in five 

 minutes by the blacksmith — bribe him well, and he will get two 

 other persons to say they heard her say she would take vou for 

 her husband, and of course you will say you took her for your 

 wife, and there's an end to the business. You will then be man 

 and wife, and if she should run away from you afterwards (which 

 I don't think likely), her money is safe at any rate." 



" Keally, Vernon, you are up to a thing or two, and argue 

 very plausibly ; but I must consider well before I undertake 

 such a project, although it appears feasible enough. Now the 

 quadrille's over, I shall claim her hand, and try what impression 

 I can make first." 



This conversation had been carried on in a low tone by 

 Lord Vancourt and Vernon, who were- standing apart near a 

 window ; and their attention was so much engrossed by watch- 

 ing the heiress and Beauchamp dancing, that they did not per- 

 ceive Bob Conyers, who sat ensconced in a seat behind the 

 window-curtains, and who therefore heard sufficient to apprise 

 him of their intentions. 



" Ha ! ha ! " thought Bob, " a rascally trick, my lord and 

 Mr. Vernon, between you ! but I'll put Beauchamp and Mal- 

 colm up to the dodge, and Aunt Gordon, too, before this time 

 to-morrow night.'* 



As Beauchamp, after the quadrille, was making his way 

 with Blanche to where Mrs. Gordon was sitting, Lord Vancourt 

 presented himself before her, saying she had promised him the 

 honour of her hand for the next dance, and offered his arm, 

 which Blanche, not knowing the rules on such occasions, was 

 hesitating whether to accept or not, when Beauchamp said 

 quickly to her — " I must consign you first to your aunt, as a 

 waltz succeeds this quadrille, in which you do not join." 



" I shall not brook your interference, sir," said Vancourt, 

 haughtily. 



" Nor I yours. Lord Vancourt," retorted Beauchamp, as, 

 drawing himself up, he resolutely passed on. 



"William," said Blanche, earnestly looking in his face, and 

 pressing her hand upon his arm, " I hope you will not quarrel 

 with Lord Vancourt." 



" No, dear Blanche, if possible to avoid it ; but you shall 

 iiot be imposed upon or insulted by any human being." 



" Oh, he did not intend that, I hope," said Blanche. 



" There was an impertinence in his manner, by stopping 

 you when leaning on my arm, and knowing well he had no 



