that even in the ring. Otherwise--I know you will excuse my saying
so--I daren't have brought you here."

Cashel shook his head, but was pleased. He thought he hated
flattery; had Lord Worthington told him that he was the best boxer
in England--which he probably was--he would have despised him. But
he wished to believe the false compliment to his manners, and was
therefore perfectly convinced of its sincerity. Lord Worthington
perceived this, and retired, pleased with his own tact, in search of
Mrs. Hoskyn, to claim her promise of an introduction to Madame
Szczymplica, which Mrs. Hoskyn had, by way of punishing him for
Cashel's misdemeanor, privately determined not to redeem.

Cashel began to think he had better go. Lydia was surrounded by men
who were speaking to her in German. He felt his own inability to
talk learnedly even in English; and he had, besides, a conviction
that she was angry with him for upsetting her cousin, who was
gravely conversing with Miss Goff. Suddenly a horrible noise caused
a general start and pause. Mr. Jack, the eminent composer, had
opened the piano-forte, and was illustrating some points in a
musical composition under discussion by making discordant sounds
with his voice, accompanied by a few chords. Cashel laughed aloud in
derision as he made his way towards the door through the crowd,
which was now pressing round the pianoforte at which Madame
Szczymplica had just come to the assistance of Jack. Near the door,
and in a corner remote from the instrument, he came upon Lydia and a
middle-aged gentleman, evidently neither a professor nor an artist.

"Ab'n'gas is a very clever man," the gentleman was saying. "I am
sorry I didn't hear the lecture. But I leave all that to Mary. She