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258 inquire the name of my guest with whom you required a meeting?"

"My Lord," said Clifford, drawing himself up, and speaking gravely and sternly, though still with a certain deference—"I need not surely point out to your Lordship's good sense and good feeling, that your very question implies a doubt, and, consequently, an affront, and that the tone of it is not such as to justify that concession on my part which the farther explanation you require would imply!"

Few spoken sarcasms could be so bitter as that silent one which Mauleverer could command by a smile, and with this complimentary expression on his thin lips and raised brow, the Earl answered—"Sir, I honour the skill testified by your reply; it must be the result of a profound experience in these affairs. I wish you, Sir, a very good night, and the next time you favour me with a visit, I am quite sure that your motives for so indulging me will be no less creditable to you than at present."

With these words Mauleverer turned to rejoin