But the world of high
politics had suddenly become so cautious that nothing leaked
out. Even gossip was at fault. Lord Marney had not received
the Buckhounds, though he never quitted his house for ride or
lounge without leaving precise instructions with Captain
Grouse as to the identical time he should return home, so that
his acceptance should not be delayed. Ireland was not yet
governed by the Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine, and the Earl de
Mowbray was still ungartered. These three distinguished
noblemen were all of them anxious--a little fidgetty; but at
the same time it was not even whispered that Lord Rambrooke or
any other lord had received the post which Lord Marney had
appropriated to himself; nor had Lord Killcroppy had a
suspicious interview with the prime minister, which kept the
Duke of Fitz-Aquitaine quiet though not easy; while not a
shadow of coming events had glanced over the vacant stall of
Lord Ribbonville in St George's Chapel, and this made Lord de
Mowbray tranquil, though scarcely content. In the meantime,
daily and hourly they all pumped Mr Tadpole, who did not find
it difficult to keep up his reputation for discretion; for
knowing nothing, and beginning himself to be perplexed at the
protracted silence, he took refuge in oracular mystery, and
delivered himself of certain Delphic sentences which adroitly
satisfied those who consulted him while they never committed
himself.
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