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Chapter 8

           GeoffreyTempest,asmereauthorofbookswouldindeedbeinsolenttoaspiretothehandofanearl’sdaughter,butGeoffreyTempest,millionaire,willbeawelcomesuitor.PoorLordElton’saffairsareinabadway—heisalmostout-at-elbows;—theAmericanwomanwhoisboardingwithhim——"

           "Boardingwithhim!"Iexclaimed—"Surelyhedoesnotkeepaboarding-house?"

           Luciolaughedheartily.

           "No,no!—youmustnotputitsocoarsely,Geoffrey.Itissimplythis,thattheEarlandCountessofEltongivetheprestigeoftheirhomeandprotectiontoMissDianaChesney(theAmericanaforesaid)forthetriflingsumoftwothousandguineasperannum.TheCountessbeingparalyzed,isobligedtohandoverherdutiesofchaperonagetohersisterMissCharlotteFitzroy—butthehaloofthecoronetstillhoversoverMissChesney’sbrow.Shehasherownsuiteofroomsinthehouse,andgoeswhereveritisproperforhertogo,underMissFitzroy’scare.LadySibyldoesnotlikethearrangement,andisthereforeneverseenanywhereexceptwithherfather.ShewillnotjoinincompanionshipwithMissChesney,andhassaidsoprettyplainly."

           "Iadmireherforit!"Isaidwarmly—"IreallyamsurprisedthatLordEltonshouldcondescend——"

           "Condescendtowhat?"inquiredLucio—"Condescendtotaketwothousandguineasayear?Goodheavensman,therearenoendoflordsandladieswhowillreadilyagreetoperformsuchanactofcondescension.‘Blue’bloodisgettingthinandpoor,andonlymoneycanthickenit.

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