"But," continued the earl, turning to Constance,--"but, Miss Vernon, a man may have his weak point; and the cunning Italian may have hit on Godolphin's, clever as he is in general; though, for my part, I will tell you frankly, I think he only encouraged him to mystify and perplex people, just to get talked of--vanity, in short.

He's a good-looking fellow that Godolphin--eh ?" continued the earl, in the tone of a man who meant you to deny what he asserted.
"Oh, beautiful!" said Lady Erpingham.

"Such a countenance!" "Deuced pale, though!--eh ?--and not the best of figures: thin, narrow-shouldered, eh--eh ?" Godolphin's proportions were faultless; but your strapping heroes think of a moderate-sized man as mathematicians define a point--declare that he has no length nor breadth whatsoever.
"What say _you,_ Constance ?" asked Lady Erpingham, meaningly.
Constance felt the meaning, and replied calmly, that Mr.Godolphin appeared to her handsomer than any one she had seen lately.
Lord Erpingham played with his neckcloth, and Lady Erpingham rose to leave the room.

"D--d fine girl!" said the earl, as he shut the door upon Constance;--"but d--d sharp!" added he, as he resettled himself on his chair..