“You know Sir Robert, then?” said Griffith, with perfect simplicity.

“Public men,” said Sir Frederic, “are sufficiently introduced by public report.  Besides, Mr Griffith—­we baronets!—­we constitute a sort of brotherhood.  I have employed all my influence in the county, and I may safely say it is not little, to raise the character and estimation of Sir Robert, and I have no doubt that he will gladly testify his acknowledgment of my services by this trifling return.  And as it is well known that my estates”—­

But the baronet was interrupted in mid career by the announcement of dinner.

Miss Sherwood took the arm of Captain Garland, and directed Sir Frederic to lead down Miss Danvers.

“You will excuse my father,” she said, as they descended, “for not meeting us in the drawing-room.  His gout makes him a lame pedestrian.  We shall find him already seated at the table.”

At the dinner-table the same arrangement was preserved.  Miss Sherwood had placed Captain Garland by her side, and conversed almost exclusively with him; while the Baronet was kept in play by the sedulous flattery of Miss Danvers.

After a few days, it became evident to all the household at Lipscombe Park that a new claimant for the hand of Miss Sherwood had appeared in the person of Captain Garland.  The captain did not reside in the house, but, on the pretence of a very strong passion for trout-fishing, he had taken up his quarters in apartments within a most convenient distance of the scene of operations.  It was not forgotten that, at the very time he made his appearance, Miss Danvers also arrived at the Park, and between these parties there was suspected to be some secret understanding.  It seemed as if our military suitor had resolved to assail the fort from within as well as from without, and therefore had brought down with him this fair ally.  Nothing better than such a fair ally.  She could not only chant his praises when absent, (and there is much in that,) but she could so manoeuvre as to procure for the captain many a tete-a-tete, which otherwise would not fall to his share.  Especially, (and this task she appeared to accomplish most adroitly,) she could engage to herself the attentions of his professed and redoubtable rival, Sir Frederic Beaumantle.  In fifty ways she could assist in betraying the citadel from within, whilst he stood storming at the gates, in open and most magnanimous warfare.  Darcy was not slower than others to suspect the stratagem, and he thought he saw symptoms of its success.  His friend Griffith had now left him; he had no dispassionate observer to consult, and his own desponding passion led him to conclude whatever was most unfavourable to himself.  Certainly there was a confidential manner between Miss Sherwood and these close allies, which seemed to justify the suspicion alluded to.  More than once, when he had joined Miss Sherwood and the captain, the unpleasant discovery had been forced upon him, by the sudden pause in their conversation, that he was the one too many.