" Her ladyship, you
see, had a considerable gift of sarcasm.
"In that case, may I ask you why you have come?"
"To open your eyes. Because I cannot bear that you should be made
the jest of your own Court."
"Madam!"
"Ah! You didn't know, of course, that you are being laughed at
for the gross manner in which you are being imposed upon by the
Stewart's affectations, any more than you know that whilst you
are denied admittance to her apartments, under the presence of
some indisposition, the Duke of Richmond is with her now."
"That is false," he was beginning, very indignantly.
"I do not desire you to take my word for it. If you will follow
me, you will no longer be the dupe of a false prude, who makes
you act so ridiculous a part."
She took him, still half-resisting, by the hand, and in silence
led him, despite his reluctance, back by the way he had so lately
come. Outside her rival's door she left him, but she paused at
the end of the gallery to make sure that he had entered.
Within he found himself confronted by several of Miss Stewart's
chambermaids, who respectfully barred his way, one of them
informing him scarcely above a whisper that her mistress had been
very ill since his Majesty left, but that, being gone to bed, she
was, God be thanked, in a very fine sleep.
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