Lord Claud strolled away presently, leaving Tom to look about him and listen to the idle chatter of the shifting throng.  He made out that though the Duke of Marlborough was in great popular esteem, his Duchess was little liked; and spiteful things were circulated to her disfavour all round the room.  It was plain that she had a very overbearing temper, and made many enemies; but her affection for her husband and children was never disputed, nor his for her, though there were many who marvelled what a man of his parts could see in such a shrew to be so devoted to her as had always been the case.

“For she belabours him sorely with her tongue times and again, and ofttimes writes him fiery letters, which discompose him more than a reverse in arms.  When she smiles, he is filled with an extraordinary joy; and when she frowns, he knows no peace till he has conciliated her.  ’Tis the strangest thing in a man such as he; and the Queen is just as bad.  In old days the woman would have been burned as a witch, for she has certainly bewitched that pair, though no one else can see wherein her wondrous charm lies.”

Later on in the evening, when the company had somewhat thinned, and when the card rooms had drawn off a number of those who yet remained, the Duke was seen strolling by himself through the suite of rooms, exchanging friendly nods and words with the many eager acquaintances he met there.

Marlborough had that recollection of faces which is so often the prerogative of royalty; and he had none of the pride which hinders a man from greeting an old friend, even though his station in life was humble.  The Duke had been but the son of a country gentleman, when he came to court as plain John Churchill.  He had climbed the ladder of fame and fortune fast; but he remembered his former friends, and never forgot to salute them in company.  His charm of manner was felt by all who came in contact with him.  However worried or hard pressed, he never let his irritation be seen, and he never appeared in haste.  He was as suave and gentle in manner amongst the humbler sort of company as in the presence of royalty itself; and his clear glance passed quickly from face to face as he talked, as though he were secretly taking the measure of men, although his languor of manner never varied.

More than once, as he walked hither and thither through the rooms, had Tom’s glance crossed his.  Possibly it was the young man’s great height which took the eye of the soldier in the midst of this crowd, where smirking fops and bending courtiers predominated.  Tom could not be accused of bowing or smirking.  He remained the whole time leaning back against the wall in the same place; his face grave; his eyes following the movements of this or that person; his lips silent, because he could not frame them to the jargon of tongues and the stilted phrases of the day, and besides he had no acquaintances in this gay throng, save only Lord Claud himself.