“Look, my Lord Duke,” says Mistress Beatrix, advancing to him, and showing the diamonds on her breast.

“Diamonds,” says his Grace.  “Hm! they seem pretty.”

“They are a present on my marriage,” says Beatrix.

“From her Majesty?” asks the Duke.  “The Queen is very good.”

“From my cousin Henry—­from our cousin Henry”—­cry both the ladies in a breath.

“I have not the honor of knowing the gentleman.  I thought that my Lord Castlewood had no brother:  and that on your ladyship’s side there were no nephews.”

“From our cousin, Colonel Henry Esmond, my lord,” says Beatrix, taking the Colonel’s hand very bravely,—­“who was left guardian to us by our father, and who has a hundred times shown his love and friendship for our family.”

“The Duchess of Hamilton receives no diamonds but from her husband, madam,” says the Duke—­“may I pray you to restore these to Mr. Esmond?”

“Beatrix Esmond may receive a present from our kinsman and benefactor, my Lord Duke,” says Lady Castlewood, with an air of great dignity.  “She is my daughter yet:  and if her mother sanctions the gift—­no one else hath the right to question it.”

“Kinsman and benefactor!” says the Duke.  “I know of no kinsman:  and I do not choose that my wife should have for benefactor a—­”

“My lord!” says Colonel Esmond.

“I am not here to bandy words,” says his Grace:  “frankly I tell you that your visits to this house are too frequent, and that I choose no presents for the Duchess of Hamilton from gentlemen that bear a name they have no right to.”

“My lord!” breaks out Lady Castlewood, “Mr. Esmond hath the best right to that name of any man in the world:  and ’tis as old and as honorable as your Grace’s.”

My Lord Duke smiled, and looked as if Lady Castlewood was mad, that was so talking to him.

“If I called him benefactor,” said my mistress, “it is because he has been so to us—­yes, the noblest, the truest, the bravest, the dearest of benefactors.  He would have saved my husband’s life from Mohun’s sword.  He did save my boy’s, and defended him from that villain.  Are those no benefits?”

“I ask Colonel Esmond’s pardon,” says his Grace, if possible more haughty than before.  “I would say not a word that should give him offence, and thank him for his kindness to your ladyship’s family.  My Lord Mohun and I are connected, you know, by marriage—­though neither by blood nor friendship; but I must repeat what I said, that my wife can receive no presents from Colonel Esmond.”

“My daughter may receive presents from the Head of our House:  my daughter may thankfully take kindness from her father’s, her mother’s, her brother’s dearest friend; and be grateful for one more benefit besides the thousand we owe him,” cries Lady Esmond.  “What is a string of diamond stones compared to that affection he hath given us—­our dearest preserver and benefactor?