The Duchess's New Swan When the party had been about a week collected at Gatherum Castle, Ferdinand Lopez had manifestly become the favourite of the Duchess for the time, and had, at her instance, promised to remain there for some further days.

He had hardly spoken to the Duke since he had been in the house,--but then but few of that motley assembly did talk much with the Duke.

Gunner and Pountney had gone away,--the Captain having declared his dislike of the upstart Portuguese to be so strong that he could not stay in the same house with him any longer, and the Major, who was of stronger mind, having resolved that he would put the intruder down.

"It is horrible to think what power money has in these days," said the Captain.

The Captain had shaken the dust of Gatherum altogether from his feet, but the Major had so arranged that a bed was to be found for him again in October,--for another happy week; but he was not to return till bidden by the Duchess.