He at once recognised Sir Joshua and then Garrick.
"Ah, my dear Sir Joshua," he cried, "I have to entreat your forgiveness for having taken the liberty of going into your painting-room in your absence."
"Your Lordship has every claim upon my consideration," said Sir Joshua. "I cannot doubt which of my poor efforts drew you thither."
"The fact is, Sir Joshua, I promised her Grace three days ago to see the picture, and as I think it likely that I shall meet her tonight, I made a point of coming hither. The Duchess of Argyll is not easily put aside when she commences to catechise a poor man, sir."
"I cannot hope, my Lord, that the picture of Lady Betty commended itself to your Lordship's eye," said Sir Joshua.
"The picture is a beauty, my dear Sir Joshua," said the young man, but with no great show of ardour. "It pleases me greatly. Your macaw is also a beauty. A capital notion of painting a macaw on a pedestal by the side of the lady, is it not, Mr. Garrick--two birds with the one stone, you know?"
"True, sir," said Garrick. "Lady Betty is a bird of Paradise."
"That's as neatly said as if it were part of a play," said the young man. "Talking of plays, there is going to be a pretty comedy enacted at the Pantheon to-night."
"Nay, finer sport even than that," laughed the youth. "We are going to do more for the drama in an hour, Mr. Garrick, than you have done in twenty years, sir."
"At the Pantheon, Lord Stanley?" inquired Garrick.
"Come to the Pantheon and you shall see all that there is to be seen," cried Lord Stanley. "Who are your friends? Have I had the honour to be acquainted with them?"
"Your Lordship must have met Mr. Burke and Dr. Goldsmith," said Garrick.
"I have often longed for that privilege," said Lord Stanley, bowing in reply to the salutation of the others. "Mr. Burke's speech on the Marriage Bill was a fine effort, and Mr. Goldsmith's comedy has always been my favourite. I hear that you are at present engaged upon another, Dr. Goldsmith. That is good news, sir. Oh, 't were a great pity if so distinguished a party missed the sport which is on foot tonight! Let me invite you all to the Pantheon--here are tickets to the show. You will give me a box at your theatre, Garrick, in exchange, on the night when Mr. Goldsmith's new play is produced."