Even the false reports, which declared that he was privately married already, and on bad terms with his wife, slandered him cordially under the popular name.

And his intimate companions, when they alluded among each other to a romance in his life which would remain a hidden romance to the end of his days, forgot that the occasion justified a serious and severe use of his surname, and blamed him affectionately as "poor dear Dick." The hour was midnight; and the friends, whom the most hospitable of men delighted to assemble round his dinner-table, had taken their leave with the exception of one guest specially detained by the host, who led him back to the dining-room.
"You were angry with our friends," Dick began, "when they asked you about that report of your marriage.

You won't be angry with Me.

Are you really going to be the old maid's husband ?" This plain question received a plain reply: "Yes, I am." Dick took the young lord's hand.

Simply and seriously, he said: "Accept my congratulations." Howel Beaucourt started as if he had received a blow instead of a compliment.
"There isn't another man or woman in the whole circle of my acquaintance," he declared, "who would have congratulated me on marrying Miss Dulane.