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Arthurs； Uthers； and Caradocs； from immemorial time。
Their heads have fallen in many a loyal conspiracy。
Elizabeth chopped off the head of the Arthur of her day；
who had been Chamberlain to Philip and Mary； and
carried letters between the Queen of Scots and her uncles
the Guises。 A cadet of the house was an officer of the
great Duke and distinguished in the famous Saint
Bartholomew conspiracy。 During the whole of Mary's
confinement； the house of Camelot conspired in her behalf。
It was as much injured by its charges in fitting out an
armament against the Spaniards； during the time of the
Armada； as by the fines and confiscations levied on it
by Elizabeth for harbouring of priests； obstinate
recusancy； and popish misdoings。 A recreant of James's time
was momentarily perverted from his religion by the
arguments of that great theologian； and the fortunes of the
family somewhat restored by his timely weakness。 But
the Earl of Camelot； of the reign of Charles； returned to
the old creed of his family； and they continued to fight
for it； and ruin themselves for it； as long as there was a
Stuart left to head or to instigate a rebellion。
Lady Mary Caerlyon was brought up at a Parisian
convent； the Dauphiness Marie Antoinette was her
godmother。 In the pride of her beauty she had been
marriedsold； it was saidto Lord Gaunt； then at Paris；
who won vast sums from the lady's brother at some of
Philip of Orleans's banquets。 The Earl of Gaunt's famous
duel with the Count de la Marche； of the Grey
Musqueteers； was attributed by common report to the
pretensions of that officer （who had been a page； and
remained a favourite of the Queen） to the hand of the
beautiful Lady Mary Caerlyon。 She was married to Lord
Gaunt while the Count lay ill of his wound； and came to
dwell at Gaunt House； and to figure for a short time in
the splendid Court of the Prince of Wales。 Fox had
toasted her。 Morris and Sheridan had written songs about
her。 Malmesbury had made her his best bow； Walpole
had pronounced her charming； Devonshire had been
almost jealous of her； but she was scared by the wild
pleasures and gaieties of the society into which she was
flung； and after she had borne a couple of sons； shrank
away into a life of devout seclusion。 No wonder that
my Lord Steyne； who liked pleasure and cheerfulness；
was not often seen after their marriage by the side of
this trembling； silent； superstitious； unhappy lady。
The before…mentioned Tom Eaves （who has no part
in this history； except that he knew all the great folks in
London； and the stories and mysteries of each family）
had further information regarding my Lady Steyne；
which may or may not be true。 〃The humiliations；〃 Tom
used to say； 〃which that woman has been made to
undergo； in her own house； have been frightful； Lord
Steyne has made her sit down to table with women with
whom I would rather die than allow Mrs。 Eaves to
associatewith Lady Crackenbury； with Mrs。 Chippenham；
with Madame de la Cruchecassee； the French secretary's
wife （from every one of which ladies Tom Eaves
who would have sacrificed his wife for knowing them
was too glad to get a bow or a dinner） with the REIGNING
FAVOURITE in a word。 And do you suppose that that
woman； of that family； who are as proud as the Bourbons；
and to whom the Steynes are but lackeys； mushrooms of
yesterday （for after all； they are not of the Old Gaunts；
but of a minor and doubtful branch of the house）； do
you suppose； I say （the reader must bear in mind that
it is always Tom Eaves who speaks） that the Marchioness
of Steyne； the haughtiest woman in England； would
bend down to her husband so submissively if there were
not some cause？ Pooh！ I tell you there are secret reasons。
I tell you that； in the emigration； the Abbe de la
Marche who was here and was employed in the
Quiberoon business with Puisaye and Tinteniac； was the
same Colonel of Mousquetaires Gris with whom Steyne
fought in the year '86that he and the Marchioness met
againthat it was after the Reverend Colonel was shot
in Brittany that Lady Steyne took to those extreme
practices of devotion which she carries on now； for she is
closeted with her director every dayshe is at service
at Spanish Place； every morning； I've watched her there
that is； I've happened to be passing thereand
depend on it； there's a mystery in her case。 People are not
so unhappy unless they have something to repent of；〃
added Tom Eaves with a knowing wag of his head； 〃and
depend on it； that woman would not be so submissive
as she is if the Marquis had not some sword to hold
over her。〃
So； if Mr。 Eaves's information be correct； it is very
likely that this lady； in her high station； had to submit
to many a private indignity and to hide many secret
griefs under a calm face。 And let us； my brethren who
have not our names in the Red Book； console ourselves
by thinking comfortably how miserable our betters may
be； and that Damocles； who sits on satin cushions and
is served on gold plate； has an awful sword hanging
over his head in the shape of a bailiff； or an hereditary
disease； or a family secret； which peeps out every now
and then from the embroidered arras in a ghastly
manner； and will be sure to drop one day or the other in the
right place。
In comparing； too； the poor man's situation with that
of the great； there is （always according to Mr。 Eaves）
another source of comfort for the former。 You who have
little or no patrimony to bequeath or to inherit； may be
on good terms with your father or your son； whereas the
heir of a great prince； such as my Lord Steyne； must
naturally be angry at being kept out of his kingdom； and
eye the occupant of it with no very agreeable glances。
〃Take it as a rule；〃 this sardonic old Laves would say；
〃the fathers and elder sons of all great families hate each
other。 The Crown Prince is always in opposition to the
crown or hankering after it。 Shakespeare knew the world；
my good sir； and when he describes Prince Hal （from
whose family the Gaunts pretend to be descended； though
they are no more related to John of Gaunt than you are）
trying on his father's coronet； he gives you a natural
description of all heirs apparent。 If you were heir to a
dukedom and a thousand pounds a day； do you mean to
say you would not wish for possession？ Pooh！ And it
stands to reason that every great man； having experienced
this feeling towards his father； must be aware that his
son entertains it towards himself； and so they can't but
be suspicious and hostile。
〃Then again； as to the feeling of elder towards younger
sons。 My dear sir； you ought to know that every elder
brother looks upon the cadets of the house as his natural
enemies； who deprive him of so much ready money which
ought to be his by right。 I have often heard George Mac
Turk； Lord Bajazet's eldest son； say that if he had his
will when he came to the title； he would do what the
sultans do； and clear the estate by chopping off all his
younger brothers' heads at once； and so the case is；
more or less； with them all。 I tell you they are all Turks
in their hearts。 Pooh！ sir； they know the world。〃 And
here； haply； a great man co