In the meanwhile, if I had murdered my Lord, I could scarcely have been received with more shameful obloquy and slander than now followed me in town and country.  ’You will hear of the lad’s death, be sure,’ exclaimed one of my friends.  ’And then his wife’s will follow,’ added another.  ‘He will marry Jenny Jones,’ added a third; and so on.  Lavender brought me the news of these scandals about me:  the country was up against me.  The farmers on market-days used to touch their hats sulkily, and get out of my way; the gentlemen who followed my hunt now suddenly seceded from it, and left off my uniform; at the county ball, where I led out Lady Susan Capermore, and took my place third in the dance after the duke and the marquis, as was my wont, all the couples turned away as we came to them, and we were left to dance alone.  Sukey Capermore has a love of dancing which would make her dance at a funeral if anybody asked her, and I had too much spirit to give in at this signal instance of insult towards me; so we danced with some of the very commonest low people at the bottom of the set—­your apothecaries, wine-merchants, attorneys, and such scum as are allowed to attend our public assemblies.

The bishop, my Lady Lyndon’s relative, neglected to invite us to the palace at the assizes; and, in a word, every indignity was put upon me which could by possibility be heaped upon an innocent and honourable gentleman.

My reception in London, whither I now carried my wife and family, was scarcely more cordial.  On paying my respects to my Sovereign at St. James’s, His Majesty pointedly asked me when I had news of Lord Bullingdon.  On which I replied, with no ordinary presence of mind, ’Sir, my Lord Bullingdon is fighting the rebels against your Majesty’s crown in America.  Does your Majesty desire that I should send another regiment to aid him?’ On which the King turned on his heel, and I made my bow out of the presence-chamber.  When Lady Lyndon kissed the Queen’s hand at the drawing-room, I found that precisely the same question had been put to her Ladyship; and she came home much agitated at the rebuke which had been administered to her.  Thus it was that my loyalty was rewarded, and my sacrifice, in favour of my country, viewed!  I took away my establishment abruptly to Paris, where I met with a very different reception:  but my stay amidst the enchanting pleasures of that capital was extremely short; for the French Government, which had been long tampering with the American rebels, now openly acknowledged the independence of the United States.  A declaration of war ensued:  all we happy English were ordered away from Paris; and I think I left one or two fair ladies there inconsolable.  It is the only place where a gentleman can live as he likes without being incommoded by his wife.  The Countess and I, during our stay, scarcely saw each other except upon public occasions, at Versailles, or at the Queen’s play-table; and our dear little Bryan advanced in a thousand elegant accomplishments which rendered him the delight of all who knew him.