‘I’ll flay the man that says it!’

‘You can’t flay me,’ her ladyship retorted with corresponding spirit.’  You impudent, good-for-nothing fellow!  D’you hear me?  You are an impudent, good-for-nothing fellow, Dunborough, for all your airs and graces!  Come, you don’t swagger over me, my lad!  And as sure as you do this that I hear of, you’ll smart for it.  There are Lorton and Swanton—­my lord can do as he pleases with them, and they’ll go from you; and your cousin Meg, ugly and long in the tooth as she is, shall have them!  You may put this beggar’s wench in my chair, but you shall smart for it as long as you live!’

‘I’ll marry whom I like!’ he said.

‘Then you’ll buy her dear,’ cried my lady, ashake with rage.

‘Dear or cheap, I’ll have her!’ he answered, inflamed by opposition and the discovery that the tutor had betrayed him.  ’I shall go to her now!  She is here.’

‘That is a lie!’ cried Lady Dunborough.  ‘Lie number one.’

‘She is in the house at this moment!’ he cried obstinately.  ’And I shall go to her.’

‘She is at Bath,’ said my lady, unmoved.  ’Ask Thomasson, if you do not believe me.’

‘She is not here,’ said the tutor with an effort.

‘Dunborough, you’ll outface the devil when you meet him!’ my lady added—­for a closing shot.  She knew how to carry the war into the enemy’s country.

He glared at her, uncertain what to believe.  ‘I’ll see for myself,’ he said at last; but sullenly, and as if he foresaw a check.

He was in the act of turning to carry out his intention, when Lady Dunborough, with great presence of mind, called to a servant who was passing the foot of the stairs.  The man came.  ’Go and fetch this gentleman the book,’ she said imperiously, ’with the people’s names.  Bring it here.  I want to see it.’

The man went, and in a moment returned with it.  She signed to him to give it to Mr. Dunborough.  ‘See for yourself,’ she said contemptuously.

She calculated, and very shrewdly, that as the lawyer and his companions had given the name of Soane and taken possession of Sir George’s rooms, only the name of Soane would appear in the book.  And so it turned out.  Mr. Dunborough sought in vain for the name of Masterson or for a party of three, resembling the one he pursued; he found only the name of Sir George Soane entered when the rooms were ordered.

‘Oh!’ he said with an execration.  ’He is here, is he?  Wish you joy of him, my lady!  Very well, I go on.  Good night, madam!’ The viscountess knew that opposition would stiffen him.  ‘Stop!’ she cried.