362 . THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



of it even, with herself, you may think yourself a deuced lucky 

 fellow." 



"Well, Bayntun^ belW'-een ourselves — and mind, it must go 

 no further — if you can arrange this little affair with Mangle, at 

 a reasonable rate, say thirty thousand, I will make you a 

 present of a couple of thousands for your trouble." 



"Agreed, Ayrshire, I will see him to-morrow morning as 

 soon as he reaches his den ; but are you quite sure of the young 

 lady consenting to her guardian's bargain 1 " 



" Oh, my dear fellow, not the least fear of that. Harcourt 

 was to see her directly, and no doubt, under the influence of 

 her aunts. Lady Malcolm and Mrs. Gordon, who will both urge 

 her to compl}^ with his wishes, I look upon it as a settled 

 thing already ; no girl of common sense or prudence could 

 decline such an ofier." 



*' Perhaps not ; yet you have heard, I suppose, th9,i; 

 although one man may lead a horse to water, two cannot make 

 him drink ; and this young filly may have a will of her own, a^ 

 well as a love of her own." 



*'Pooh ! nonsense, Bayntun ; just now no man would come 

 forward as I have done — the risk is too great, and the fancy 

 of marrying for love is become quite out of date." 



" Not quite, Ayi'shire j however, I will attend to my part 

 of the business early to-morrow, and ineet you here at three 

 o'clock. So now, good night." 



At ten o'clock the next morning. Lord Henry drove to 

 Lincoln's Inn, and found Mangle at home, with whom he at first 

 entered on some aflfairs of his own, to allay any suspicions about 

 the heiress's property, and was about leaving, w^hen, taking his 

 hat. Lord Henry said, in a careless tone, "Well, Mangle, I 

 forgot to ask how you got on with old Harcourt ; the news is 

 all over town, and the heiress at rather a low figure in the 

 betting world, there being long odds against her getting married 

 this season." 



" Ah, my lord, you are always thinking about your betting- 

 book, instead of other matters ; but I think Mr. Harcourt is 

 pretty well satisfied by this time that our cause is a good 

 one." 



" Well, Mangle, I'll have a bet with you — an even five-and- 

 twenty — you don't win the stakes, notwithstanding." 



" Thank you, my lord, I am not a betting man." 



" Say five then, JMangle — anything for a bet — shall I enter 

 it in my log 1 " taking out his pocket-book, 



