"Don't know--can't say," drawled out a very diminutive hussar cornet.
"He has a look of Merrington," said another, joining the party.
"Not a bit of it; he's much larger. I should n't wonder if he's one of the Esterhazys they've caught. There is one of them over here--a Paul or a Nicholas, of the younger branch;--but here 's Linton, he 'll tell us, if any man can."
This speech was addressed to a very dapper, well-dressed man of about thirty, mounted on a small thoroughbred pony, whose splashed and heaving flanks bespoke a hasty ride.
"I say, Tom, you met the Kennyfecks,--who was that with them?"
"Don't you know him, my Lord?" said a sharp, ringing voice; "that's our newly-arrived millionnaire,--Roland Cashel, our Tipperary Croesus,--the man with I won't say how many hundred thousands a year, and millions in bank besides."
"The devil it is--a good-looking fellow, too."
"Spooney, I should say," drawled out the hussar, caressing his moustache.
"One need n't be as smart a fellow as you, Wheeler, with forty thousand a year," said Linton, with a sly glance at the others.
"You don't suppose, Tom," said the former speaker, "that the Kennyfecks have any designs in that quarter,--egad! that would be rather aspiring, eh?"
"Very unwise in us to permit it, my Lord," said Linton, in a low tone. "That's a dish will bear carving, and let every one have his share."
My Lord laughed with a low cunning laugh at the suggestion, and nodded an easy assent.
Meanwhile the Kennyfecks rode slowly on, and crossing Essex Bridge continued their way at a foot pace towards the park, passing in front of the Four Courts, where a very large knot of idlers uncovered their heads in polite salutation as they went.
"That's Kennyfeck's newly-discovered client," cried one; "a great card, if they can only secure him for one of the girls."
"I say, did you remark how the eldest had him engaged? She never noticed any of us."
"I back Olivia," said another; "she's a quiet one, but devilish sly for all that."
"Depend upon it," interposed an older speaker, "the fellow is up to all that sort of thing."
"Jones met him at dinner yesterday at Kennyfeck's, and says he is a regular soft one, and if the girls don't run an opposition to each other, one is sure to win."