Tadpole, who was somewhat earnest in his talk, seemed to have
pinned the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine; Lord Marney who wanted to
say a word alone to Lord de Mowbray had dexterously drawn that
personage aside on the pretence of looking at a picture.
Tadpole, who had a most frank and unsophisticated mien had an
eye for every corner of a room, seized the opportunity for
which he had been long cruising. "I don't pretend to be
behind the scenes, duke; but it was said to me to-day,
'Tadpole, if you do chance to see the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine
you may say that positively Lord Killcroppy will not go to
Ireland.'"
A smile of satisfaction played over the handsome face of the
duke--instantly suppressed lest it might excite suspicion; and
then with a friendly and very significant nod that intimated
to Tadpole not to dwell on the subject at the present moment,
the duke with a rather uninterested air recurred to the
Jamaica debate, and soon after appealed on some domestic point
to his son-in-law. This broke up the conversation between
Lord de Mowbray and Lord Marney. Lord de Mowbray advancing
was met accidentally on purpose by Mr Tadpole, who seemed
anxious to push forward to Lord Marney.
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