Quirk; he would not resume argument with such
a trifler; nor, indeed, was there any opportunity; for Lord Rockminster
now suggested they should go into the drawing-room--and Ichabod had to
leave that decanter of port.
Now, if Maurice Mangan had come to this house to see how Lionel was
feted and caressed by "the great"--in order that he might carry the
tale down to Winstead to please the old folk and Miss Francie--he was
doomed to disappointment. There were very few of "the great" present, to
begin with; and those who were paid no particular attention to Lionel
Moore. It was Octavius Quirk who appeared to be the hero of the evening,
so far as the attention devoted to him by Lady Adela and her immediate
little circle was concerned. But Maurice himself was not wholly left
neglected. When tea was brought in, his hostess came over to where he
was standing.
"Won't you sit down, Mr. Mangan?--I want to talk to you about something
of very great importance--importance to me, that is, for you know how
vain young authors are. You have heard of my new book?--yes, I thought
Mr. Moore must have told you. Well, it's all ready, except the
title-page. I am not quite settled about the title yet; and you literary
gentlemen are so quick and clever with suggestions--I am sure you will
give me good advice.
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