For a moment or two, Mr Moffat consoled himself in his misfortune by thinking how he might avenge himself on Miss Dunstable.  Soon, however, such futile ideas left his brain.  Why should he give over the chase because the rich galleon had escaped him on this, his first cruise in pursuit of her?  Such prizes were not to be won so easily.  His present objection clearly consisted in his engagement to Miss Gresham, and in that only.  Let that engagement be at an end, notoriously and publicly broken off, and this objection would fall to the ground.  Yes; ships so richly freighted were not to be run down in one summer morning’s plain sailing.  Instead of looking for his revenge on Miss Dunstable, it would be more prudent in him—­more in keeping with his character—­to pursue his object, and overcome such difficulties as he might find his way.

CHAPTER XIX

THE DUKE OF OMNIUM

The Duke of Omnium was, as we have said, a bachelor.  Not the less on that account did he on certain rare gala days entertain the beauty of the county in his magnificent rural seat, or the female fashion of London in Belgrave Square; but on this occasion the dinner at Gatherum Castle—­for such was the name of his mansion—­was to be confined to the lords of the creation.  It was to be one of those days on which he collected round his board all the notables of the county, in order that his popularity might not wane, or the established glory of his hospitable house become dim.

On such an occasion it was not probable that Lord de Courcy would be one of the guests.  The party, indeed, who went from Courcy Castle was not large, and consisted of the Honourable George, Mr Moffat, and Frank Gresham.  They went in a tax-cart, with a tandem horse, driven very knowingly by George de Courcy; and the fourth seat on the back of the vehicle was occupied by a servant, who was to look after the horses at Gatherum.

The Honourable George drove either well or luckily, for he reached the duke’s house in safety; but he drove very fast.  Poor Miss Dunstable! what would have been her lot had anything but good happened to that vehicle, so richly freighted with her three lovers!  They did not quarrel as to the prize, and all reached Gatherum Castle in good-humour with each other.

The castle was new building of white stone, lately erected at an enormous cost by one of the first architects of the day.  It was an immense pile, and seemed to cover ground enough for a moderate-sized town.  But, nevertheless, report said that when it was completed, the noble owner found that he had no rooms to live in; and that, on this account, when disposed to study his own comfort, he resided in a house of perhaps one-tenth of the size, built by his grandfather in another county.