These are things of more weight with a gentleman than life." "Odds death!" blazed Grey, giving a free rein to his dislike of this calm gentleman.

"Do you suggest that a man's honour is imperilled in His Grace's service ?" "I suggest nothing," answered Wilding, unmoved.

"What I think, I state.
If I thought a man's honour imperilled in this service, you would not see me at this table now.

I can make you no more convincing answer." Grey laughed unpleasantly, and Wilding, a faint tinge on his cheek-bones, measured him with a stern, intrepid look before which his lordship's shifty glance was observed to fall.

Wilding's eye, having achieved that much, passed from him to the Duke, and its expression softened.
"Your Grace sees," said he, "how well founded were the fears I expressed that your coming has been premature." "In God's name, what would you have me do ?" cried the Duke, and petulance made his voice unsteady.
Mr.Wilding rose, moved out of his habitual calm by the earnestness that pervaded him.