Pheasants at dinner are rubbish,--mere rubbish.

Here we are at the house.

Will you come in and have a glass of wine ?" But this John Eames declined, pleasing the earl better by doing so than he would have done by accepting it.

Not that the lord was inhospitable or insincere in his offer, but he preferred that such a one as John Eames should receive his proffered familiarity without too much immediate assurance.

He felt that Eames was a little in awe of his companion's rank, and he liked him the better for it.