"Tell me about the
neighbourhood."
"There isn't any, really," said Lady Anstruthers. "The houses are so far
away from each other. The nearest is six miles from here, and it is one
that doesn't count.
"Why?"
"There is no family, and the man who owns it is so poor. It is a big
place, but it is falling to pieces as this is.
"What is it called?"
"Mount Dunstan. The present earl only succeeded about three years ago.
Nigel doesn't know him. He is queer and not liked. He has been away."
"Where?"
"No one knows. To Australia or somewhere. He has odd ideas. The Mount
Dunstans have been awful people for two generations. This man's father
was almost mad with wickedness. So was the elder son. This is a second
son, and he came into nothing but debt. Perhaps he feels the disgrace
and it makes him rude and ill-tempered. His father and elder brother had
been in such scandals that people did not invite them.
"Do they invite this man?"
"No. He probably would not go to their houses if they did. And he went
away soon after he came into the title."
"Is the place beautiful?"
"There is a fine deer park, and the gardens were wonderful a long time
ago. The house is worth looking at--outside.
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