One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
He doated on the diverse aspect of the gallant woman of
the world.
‘You succeed in everything you do,’ said she, and she cordially
believed it; and that belief set the neighbour memory
palpitating. Success folded her waist, was warm upon her
lips: she worshipped the figure of Success.
‘I can’t consent to fail, it’s true, when my mind is on a
thing,’ Victor rejoined.
He looked his mind on Lady Grace. The shiver of a maid
went over her. These transparent visages, where the thought
which is half design is perceived as a lightning, strike lightning
into the physically feebler. Her hand begged, with the
open palm, her head shook thrice; and though she did not
step back, he bowed to the negation, and then she gave him
a grateful shadow of a smile, relieved, with a startled view of
how greatly relieved, by that sympathetic deference in the
wake of the capturing intrepidity.
‘I am to name Tuesday for Dudley?’ she suggested.
‘At any hour he pleases to appoint.’
‘A visit signifies …’
‘Whatever it signifies!’
‘I’m thinking of the bit of annoyance.’
‘To me? Anything appointed, finds me ready the next
minute.’
Her smile was flatteringly bright. ‘By the way, keep your
City people close about you: entertain as much as possible;
dine them,’ she said.
‘At home?’
‘Better. Sir Rodwell Blachington, Sir Abraham Quatley:
and their wives. There’s no drawing back now. And I will
meet them.’
She received a compliment. She was on the foot to go.
But she had forgotten the Tiddler mine.
The Tiddler mine was leisurely mounting. Victor stated
the figures; he saluted her hand, and Lady Grace passed out,
with her heart on the top of them, and a buzz about it of the
unexpected having occurred She had her experiences to match
new patterns in events; though not very many. Compared
with gambling, the game of love was an idle entertainment.
Compared with other players, this man was gifted.
Victor went in to Mr. Inchling’s room, and kept Inchling
from speaking, that he might admire him for he knew not
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