“But this Ladislaw⁠—there again is a vexatious business,” said Sir James. “We have had him two or three times to dine at the Hall (you have met him, by the by) as Brooke’s guest and a relation of Casaubon’s, thinking he was only on a flying visit. And now I find he’s in everybody’s mouth in Middlemarch as the editor of the Pioneer . There are stories going about him as a quill-driving alien, a foreign emissary, and whatnot.”

“Casaubon won’t like that,” said the Rector.

“There is some foreign blood in Ladislaw,” returned Sir James. “I hope he won’t go into extreme opinions and carry Brooke on.”