" He paused, and
then said gravely, "You goin' present me to Lady Mary Carlisle."
The other laughed in utter scorn. "Lady Mary Carlisle, of all women
alive, would be the first to prefer the devil to a man of no birth,
barber."
"'Tis all arrange'; have no fear; nobody question monsieur's You goin'
take me to-night--"
"No!"
"Yes. And after--then I have the entree. Is it much I ask? This one
little favor, and I never w'isper, never breathe that--it is to say, I
am always forever silent of monsieur's misfortune."
"You have the entree!" sneered the other. "Go to a lackeys' rout and
dance with the kitchen maids. If I would, I could not present you to
Bath society. I should have cartels from the fathers, brothers, and
lovers of every wench and madam in the place, even I. You would be
thrust from Lady Malbourne's door five minutes after you entered it."
"No, no, no!"
"Half the gentlemen in Bath have been here to play. They would know
you, wouldn't they, fool? You've had thousands out of Bantison, Rakell,
Guilford, and Townbrake. They would have you lashed by the grooms as
your ugly deserts are. You to speak to Lady Mary Carlisle! 'Od's blood!
You! Also, dolt, she would know you if you escaped the others. She stood
within a yard of you when Nash expelled you the pump-room."
M. Beaucaire flushed slightly. "You think I did not see?" he asked.
"Do you dream that' because Winterset introduces a low fellow he will be
tolerated--that Bath will receive a barber?"
"I have the distinction to call monsieur's attention," replied the young
man gayly, "I have renounce that profession.
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