"I am engaged," said Clarence, hesitating and laughing---"I am unfortunately engaged to-day to dine with Mr. Rochfort and Sir Philip Baddely, and in the evening I am to be at Lady Delacour's."
"Lady Delacour! Not the same Lady Delacour whom four years ago, when we met at Florence, you compared to the Venus de Medici--no, no, it cannot be the same--a goddess of four years' standing!--Incredible!"
"Incredible as it seems," said Clarence, "it is true: I admire her ladyship more than ever I did."
"Like a true connoisseur," said Dr. X----, "you admire a fine picture the older it grows: I hear that her ladyship's face is really one of the finest pieces of painting extant, with the advantage of
'Ev'ry grace which time alone can grant.'"
"Come, come, Dr. X----," cried Mr. Percival, "no more wit at Lady Delacour's expense: I have a fellow-feeling for Mr. Hervey."
"Why, you are not in love with her ladyship, are you?" said Dr. X----. "I am not in love with Lady Delacour's picture of herself," replied Mr. Percival, "but I was once in love with the original."
"How?--When?--Where?" cried Clarence Hervey, in a tone totally different from that in which he had first addressed Mr. Percival.
"To-morrow you shall know the how, the when, and the where," said Mr. Percival: "here's your friend, Mr. St. George, and his coach."
"The deuce take him!" said Clarence: "but tell me, is it possible that you are not in love with her still?--and why?"
"Why?" said Mr. Percival--"why? Come to-morrow, as you have promised, to Upper Grosvenor-street, and let me introduce you to Lady Anne Percival; she can answer your question better than I can--if not entirely to your satisfaction, at least entirely to mine, which is more surprising, as the lady is my wife."
By this time Clarence Hervey was equipped in a dry suit of clothes; and by the strength of an excellent constitution, which he had never injured, even amongst his dissipated associates, he had recovered from the effects of his late imprudence.--"Clary, let's away, here's the coach," said Mr. St. George. "Why, my boy--that's a famous fellow, faith!--why, you look the better for being drowned. 'Pon honour, if I were you, I would jump into the Serpentine river once a day."