"I--I presume a gentleman friend?"
"Yes, of course," said Lionel, angrily. "It's a Percival Miles--why, you
must have heard of Sir Barrington Miles, and this is his eldest son,
though he's quite a young fellow--"
"Oh, very well; oh, yes, certainly!" said Mr. Lehmann, apparently very
much relieved. "Will you ask him?"
"Well, no, I can't exactly," Lionel said. "But I will send him a formal
note in your name--'Mr. Lehmann presents his compliments'--may I?"
"All right; but dinner will be served almost directly. Would you mind
telling the waiters to lay another cover?"
About five minutes thereafter, when the company had swarmed into the
dining-room--most of them chatting and laughing, but the more
business-like looking for their allotted places at table--Mr. Percival
Miles put in an appearance, very shy and perhaps a little bewildered,
for he knew not to whom he owed this invitation. Lionel had got a seat
for him between Mlle. Girond and Mr. Carey, the musical conductor; if he
could, and if he had dared, he would have placed him next Miss Burgoyne;
but Miss Burgoyne was at the head of the table, between Lord Denysfort
and Mr. Lehmann--besides, that fiery young lady might have taken sudden
cause of offence.
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