And then he is always about the house.

And between you and me they have got up those bills of Alfred's, and have said they can lie in their safe till it suits your uncle to pay them.' 'They will lie there a long time,' said Lord Buntingford.
'Of course they expect something in return; do dance with the girl once.' Lord Buntingford disapproved mildly, and did as his mother asked him.
The affair went off very well.

There were three or four card-tables in one of the lower rooms, and at one of them sat Lord Alfred Grendall and Mr Melmotte, with two or three other players, cutting in and out at the end of each rubber.

Playing whist was Lord Alfred's only accomplishment, and almost the only occupation of his life.

He began it daily at his club at three o'clock, and continued playing till two in the morning with an interval of a couple of hours for his dinner.
This he did during ten months of the year, and during the other two he frequented some watering-place at which whist prevailed.