A few minutes afterwards, and when certain satirical nods and winks were circulating among the assembly, a waiter slid a piece of paper into Mrs.Jones's hand, who, on looking at the contents, seemed about to leave the room.
"Jones--Jones!" exclaimed Lady Penelope, in surprise and displeasure.
"Only the key of the tea-caddie, your ladyship," answered Jones; "I will be back in an instant." "Jones--Jones!" again exclaimed her mistress, "here is enough"-- of tea, she would have said; but Lord Etherington was so near her, that she was ashamed to complete the sentence, and had only hope in Jones's quickness of apprehension, and the prospect that she would be unable to find the key which she went in search of.
Jones, meanwhile, tripped off to a sort of housekeeper's apartment, of which she was _locum tenens_ for the evening, for the more ready supply of whatever might be wanted on Lady Penelope's night, as it was called.
Here she found Mr.Mowbray of St.Ronan's, whom she instantly began to assail with, "La! now, Mr.Mowbray, you are such another gentleman!--I am sure you will make me lose my place--I'll swear you will--what can you have to say, that you could not as well put off for an hour ?" "I want to know, Jones," answered Mowbray, in a different tone, perhaps, from what the damsel expected, "what your lady was just now saying about my family." "Pshaw!--was that all ?" answered Mrs.Jones.

"What should she be saying ?--nonsense--Who minds what she says ?--I am sure I never do, for one." "Nay, but, my dear Jones," said Mowbray, "I insist upon knowing--I must know, and I _will_ know." "La! Mr.Mowbray, why should I make mischief ?--As I live, I hear some one coming! and if you were found speaking with me here--indeed, indeed, some one is coming!" "The devil may come, if he will!" said Mowbray, "but we do not part, pretty mistress, till you tell me what I wish to know." "Lord, sir, you frighten me!" answered Jones; "but all the room heard it as well as I--it was about Miss Mowbray--and that my lady would be shy of her company hereafter--for that she was--she was"---- "For that my sister was _what_ ?" said Mowbray, fiercely, seizing her arm.
"Lord, sir, you terrify me!" said Jones, beginning to cry; "at any rate, it was not I that said it--it was Lady Penelope." "And what was it the old, adder-tongued madwoman dared to say of Clara Mowbray ?--Speak out plainly, and directly, or, by Heaven, I'll make you!" "Hold, sir--hold, for God's sake!--you will break my arm," answered the terrified handmaiden.

"I am sure I know no harm of Miss Mowbray; only, my lady spoke as if she was no better than she ought to be .-- Lord, sir, there is some one listening at the door!"-- and making a spring out of his grasp, she hastened back to the room in which the company were assembled.
Mowbray stood petrified at the news he had heard, ignorant alike what could be the motive for a calumny so atrocious, and uncertain what he were best do to put a stop to the scandal.

To his farther confusion, he was presently convinced of the truth of Mrs.Jones's belief that they had been watched, for, as he went to the door of the apartment, he was met by Mr.Touchwood.
"What has brought you here, sir ?" said Mowbray, sternly.
"Hoitie toitie," answered the traveller, "why, how came _you_ here, if you go to that, squire ?--Egad, Lady Penelope is trembling for her souchong, so I just took a step here to save her ladyship the trouble of looking after Mrs.Jones in person, which, I think, might have been a worse interruption than mine, Mr.Mowbray." "Pshaw, sir, you talk nonsense," said Mowbray; "the tea-room is so infernally hot, that I had sat down here a moment to draw breath, when the young woman came in." "And you are going to run away, now the old gentleman is come in ?" said Touchwood--"Come, sir, I am more your friend than you may think." "Sir, you are intrusive--I want nothing that you can give me," said Mowbray.
"That is a mistake," answered the senior; "for I can supply you with what most young men want--money and wisdom." "You will do well to keep both till they are wanted," said Mowbray.
"Why, so I would, squire, only that I have taken something of a fancy for your family; and they are supposed to have wanted cash and good counsel for two generations, if not for three." "Sir," said Mowbray, angrily, "you are too old either to play the buffoon, or to get buffoon's payment." "Which is like monkey's allowance, I suppose," said the traveller, "more kicks than halfpence .-- Well--at least I am not young enough to quarrel with boys for bullying.

I'll convince you, however, Mr.Mowbray, that I know some more of your affairs than what you give me credit for." "It may be," answered Mowbray, "but you will oblige me more by minding your own." "Very like; meantime, your losses to-night to my Lord Etherington are no trifle, and no secret neither." "Mr.Touchwood, I desire to know where you had your information ?" said Mowbray.
"A matter of very little consequence compared to its truth or falsehood, Mr.Mowbray," answered the old gentleman.
"But of the last importance to me, sir," said Mowbray.