Becomingly flushed with triumph, my lady gave her little hand to Mr. Selwyn, who had been once a very ardent admirer, laughed at his neat compliment, and declared that he was a dreadful flattering demon, and positively she would not listen to him!

Sir Gregory Markham, who brought her the negus, she discovered to have just returned from Paris. On hearing this, she broke off in the middle of a conversation with an enchanted French Chevalier and turned to him, raising her china-blue eyes to his face and clasping tight-gloved hands.

“Oh, Sir Gregory! Paris? Then tell me⁠—please, tell me⁠—have you seen my darling Devil?”

“Why, yes, madam,” responded Markham, handing her the glass he held.

She sipped the negus, and gave it to the Chevalier to take care of.