But that is not our affair; let the Lady Isabel look to it.’

Dinner was announced; and no farther conversation of any consequence passed between the count and Lord Colambre till the cloth was removed and the servants had withdrawn.  Then our hero opened on the subject which was heavy at his heart.

’My dear count—­to go back to the burial place of the Nugents, where my head was lost the first time I had the pleasure of seeing you—­you know, or, possibly,’ said he, smiling, ’you do not know, that I have a cousin of the name of Nugent?’

‘You told me,’ replied the count, ’that you had near relations of that name; but I do not recollect that you mentioned any one in particular.’

’I never named Miss Nugent to you.  No! it is not easy to me to talk of her, and impossible to me to describe her.  If you had come one half-hour sooner this morning, you would have seen her:  I know she is exactly suited to your excellent taste.  But it is not at first sight she pleases most; she gains upon the affections, attaches the heart, and unfolds upon the judgment.  In temper, manners, and good sense, in every quality a man can or should desire in a wife, I never saw her equal.  Yet, there is an obstacle, an invincible obstacle, the nature of which I cannot explain to you, that forbids me to think of her as a wife.  She lives with my father and mother:  they are returning to Ireland, I wished, earnestly wished, on many accounts, to have accompanied them, chiefly on my mother’s; but it cannot be.  The first thing a man must do is to act honourably; and, that he may do so, he must keep out of the way of a temptation which he believes to be above his strength.  I will never see Miss Nugent again till she is married; I must either stay in England, or go abroad.  I have a mind to serve a campaign or two, if I could get a commission in a regiment going to Spain; but I understand so many are eager to go at this moment, that it is very difficult to get a commission in such a regiment.’

‘It is difficult,’ said the count.  ‘But,’ added he, after thinking for a moment, ’I have it!  I can get the thing done for you, and directly.  Major Benson, in consequence of that affair, you know, about his mistress, is forced to quit the regiment.  When the lieutenant-colonel came to quarters, and the rest of the officers heard the fact, they would not keep company with Benson, and would not mess with him.  I know he wants to sell out; and that regiment is to be ordered immediately to Spain.  I will have the thing done for you, if you request it.’

’First, give me your advice, Count O’Halloran; you are well acquainted with the military profession, with military life.  Would you advise me—­I won’t speak of myself, because we judge better by general views than by particular cases—­would you advise a young man at present to go into the army?’