He listened to the parson curiously and consentingly.  We are ashes.  Ten centuries had come to an end in him to prove the formula correct.  The chronicle of the House would state that the last Earl of Romfrey left no heir.

Cecil was a fine figure walking beside him.  Measured by feet, he might be a worthy holder of great lands.  But so heartily did the earl despise this nephew that he never thought of trying strength with the fellow, and hardly cared to know what his value was, beyond his immediate uses as an instrument to strike with.  Beauchamp of Romfrey had been his dream, not Baskelett:  and it increased his disgust of Beauchamp that Baskelett should step forward as the man.  No doubt Cecil would hunt the county famously:  he would preserve game with the sleepless eye of a General of the Jesuits.  These things were to be considered.

Two days after the funeral Lord Romfrey proceeded to London.  He was met at the station by Rosamund, and informed that his house was not yet vacated by the French family.

‘And where have you arranged for me to go, ma’am?’ he asked her complacently.

She named an hotel where she had taken rooms for him.

He nodded, and was driven to the hotel, saying little on the road.

As she expected, he was heavily armed against her and Nevil.

’You’re the slave of the fellow, ma’am.  You are so infatuated that you second his amours, in my house.  I must wait for a clearance, it seems.’

He cast a comical glance of disapprobation on the fittings of the hotel apartment, abhorring gilt.

‘They leave us the day after to-morrow,’ said Rosamund, out of breath with nervousness at the commencement of the fray, and skipping over the opening ground of a bold statement of facts.  ’Madame de Rouaillout has been unwell.  She is not yet recovered; she has just risen.  Her sister-in-law has nursed her.  Her husband seems much broken in health; he is perfect on the points of courtesy.’

‘That is lucky, ma’am.’

‘Her brother, Nevil’s comrade in the war, was there also.’

‘Who came first?’

’My lord, you have only heard Captain Baskelett’s version of the story. 
She has been my guest since the first day of her landing in England. 
There cannot possibly be an imputation on her.’

’Ma’am, if her husband manages to be satisfied, what on earth have I to do with it?’

‘I am thinking of Nevil, my lord.’

‘You’re never thinking of any one else, ma’am.’

’He sleeps here, at this hotel.  He left the house to Madame de Rouaillout.  I bear witness to that.’

‘You two seem to have made your preparations to stand a criminal trial.’

‘It is pure truth, my lord.’

‘Do you take me to be anxious about the fellow’s virtue?’

‘She is a lady who would please you.’

‘A scandal in my house does not please me.’