He had been for a long ride, and was now lying back in an easy chair, with a long whisky-and-soda by his side, reading the _Pall Mall Gazette_.

In literature his taste was blameless.
Holloway, ushering William Roper into the room, said: "William Roper, m'lord," and withdrew.
Lord Loudwater went on reading the paragraph he had just begun.

William Roper gazed at him without any weakening of his courage, so strong was his conviction of the nobility of the duty he was discharging, and cleared his throat.
Lord Loudwater finished the paragraph, scowled at the interrupter, and said: "Well, what is it?
Hey?
What do you want ?" "It's about 'er ladyship, your lordship.

I thought your lordship oughter be told about it--its not being at all the sort of thing as your lordship would be likely to 'old with." There are noblemen who would, on the instant, have bidden William Roper go to the devil.

Lord Loudwater was not of these.