That too might have been
natural. Mr and Miss Boncassen were there also, who at this moment
were quite strangers to the Duke; and Mr Lupton. The Duke also
found Lady Chiltern, whose father-in-law had more than once sat in
the same Cabinet with himself, and Mr Monk, who was generally
spoken of as the head of the coming Liberal Government, and the
Ladies Adelaide and Flora FitzHoward, the still unmarried but not
very juvenile daughters of the Duke of St Bungay. These with a few
others made a large party, and rather confused the Duke, who had
hardly reflected that discreet and profitable love-making was more
likely to go on among numbers, than if the two young people were
thrown together with no other companions.
Lord Popplecourt had been made to understand what was expected of
him, and after some hesitation had submitted himself to the
conspiracy. There would not be less at any rate than two hundred
thousand pounds,--and the connection would be made with one of the
highest families in Great Britain. Though Lady Cantrip had said
very few words, those words had been expressive; and the young
bachelor peer had given in his adhesion.
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