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prohibited for publication。
The Duchess； herself the superlative of beauty； wealth； and position；
was married to the highest noble in the Three Kingdoms。 Those who
talked about such matters said that their progeny were exactly like their
parents；a peculiarity of the aristocratic and wealthy。 They all looked like
brothers and sisters； except their parents； who； such was their purity of
blood； the perfection of their manners； and the opulence of their condition；
might have been taken for their own children's elder son and daughter。 The
daughters； with one exception； were all married to the highest nobles in
the land。 That exception was the Lady Coriander； who； there being no
vacancy above a marquis and a rental of L1；000；000； waited。 Gathered
around the refined and sacred circle of their breakfast…table； with their
glittering coronets； which； in filial respect to their father's Tory instincts
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and their mother's Ritualistic tastes； they always wore on their regal brows；
the effect was dazzling as it was refined。 It was this peculiarity and their
strong family resemblance which led their brother…in…law； the good…
humored St。 Addlegourd； to say that； 〃'Pon my soul； you know； the whole
precious mob looked like a ghastly pack of court cards； you know。〃 St。
Addlegourd was a radical。 Having a rent…roll of L15；000；000； and
belonging to one of the oldest families in Britain； he could afford to be。
〃Mamma； I've just dropped a pearl；〃 said the Lady Coriander； bending
over the Persian hearthrug。
〃From your lips； sweet friend；〃 said Lothaw； who came of age and
entered the room at the same moment。
〃No； from my work。 It was a very valuable pearl； mamma； papa gave
Isaacs and Sons L50；000 for the two。〃
〃Ah； indeed；〃 said the Duchess； languidly rising； 〃let us go to
luncheon。〃
〃But your Grace；〃 interposed Lothaw； who was still quite young； and
had dropped on all…fours on the carpet in search of the missing gem；
〃consider the value〃
〃Dear friend；〃 interposed the Duchess； with infinite tact； gently lifting
him by the tails of his dress…coat； 〃I am waiting for your arm。〃
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CHAPTER II。
Lothaw was immensely rich。 The possessor of seventeen castles；
fifteen villas； nine shooting…boxes； and seven town houses； he had other
estates of which he had not even heard。
Everybody at Plusham played croquet； and none badly。 Next to their
purity of blood and great wealth； the family were famous for this
accomplishment。 Yet Lothaw soon tired of the game； and after seriously
damaging his aristocratically large foot in an attempt to 〃tight croquet〃 the
Lady Aniseed's ball； he limped away to join the Duchess。
〃I'm going to the hennery；〃 she said。
〃Let me go with you； I dearly love fowlsbroiled；〃 he added；
thoughtfully。
〃The Duke gave Lady Montairy some large Cochins the other day；〃
continued the Duchess； changing the subject with delicate tact。
〃Lady Montairy； Quite contrairy； How do your cochins grow？〃
sang Lothaw gayly。
The Duchess looked shocked。 After a prolonged silence； Lothaw
abruptly and gravely said：
〃If you please； ma'am； when I come into my property I should like to
build some improved dwellings for the poor； and marry Lady Coriander。〃
〃You amaze me； dear friend； and yet both your aspirations are noble
and eminently proper；〃 said the Duchess； 〃Coriander is but a child；and
yet；〃 she added； looking graciously upon her companion； 〃for the matter of
that； so are you。〃
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CHAPTER III。
Mr。 Putney Giles's was Lothaw's first grand dinner…party。 Yet； by
carefully watching the others； he managed to acquit himself creditably；
and avoided drinking out of the finger…bowl by first secretly testing its
contents with a spoon。 The conversation was peculiar and singularly
interesting。
〃Then you think that monogamy is simply a question of the
thermometer？〃 said Mrs。 Putney Giles to her companion。
〃I certainly think that polygamy should be limited by isothermal
lines；〃 replied Lothaw。
〃I should say it was a matter of latitude；〃 observed a loud talkative
man opposite。 He was an Oxford Professor with a taste for satire； and had
made himself very obnoxious to the company； during dinner； by speaking
disparagingly of a former well…known Chancellor of the Exchequer；a
great statesman and brilliant novelist；whom he feared and hated。
Suddenly there was a sensation in the room； among the females it
absolutely amounted to a nervous thrill。 His Eminence； the Cardinal； was
announced。 He entered with great suavity of manner； and； after shaking
hands with everybody； asking after their relatives； and chucking the more
delicate females under the chin with a high…bred grace peculiar to his
profession； he sat down； saying； 〃And how do we all find ourselves this
evening； my dears？〃 in several different languages； which he spoke
fluently。
Lothaw's heart was touched。 His deeply religious convictions were
impressed。 He instantly went up to this gifted being； confessed； and
received absolution。 〃To…morrow；〃 he said to himself； 〃I will partake of the
communion； and endow the Church with my vast estates。 For the present
I'll let the improved cottages go。〃
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CHAPTER IV。
As Lothaw turned to leave the Cardinal； he was struck by a beautiful
face。 It was that of a matron； slim but shapely as an Ionic column。 Her face
was Grecian； with Corinthian temples； Hellenic eyes that looked from
jutting eyebrows； like dormer… windows in an Attic forehead； completed
her perfect Athe