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276 "And can nothing be done for the poor old lady?" exclaimed Courtenaye, eagerly. "And the pretty young one?" returned his lordship, laughing. "Why, I have been a complete Amadis of Gaul this morning, rescuing distressed beauty, if not from peril, from perplexity. I met Lady Marchmont on the terrace, not a little surprised to meet her ladyship there." "Lord Marchmont is in the opposition, is he not?" asked his nephew. "Yes, for the time being; not that he knows very well what he is. We care little for him, his solemn lordship is one of those never long attached to any party, it being quite impossible to come up to their exaggerated ideas of self-importance. They reckon time by a series of personal affronts; for an aptitude to take offence is the constant characteristic of their low, dull vanity—a vanity never satisfied. Still it surprised me to meet Lady Marchmont at Chelsea." "I never," said Norbourue, "observed any similarity of opinion between the brilliant countess and her lord and master."