\"Youcomeintime，mylord，\"shesaid，\"todecideadisputebetweenusladies。HerehasSirRichardVarneyaskedourpermissiontodepartfromtheCastlewithhisinfirmlady，having，ashetellsus，yourlordship\'sconsenttohisabsence，sohecanobtainours。Certes，wehavenowilltowithholdhimfromtheaffectionatechargeofthispooryoungperson;butyouaretoknowthatSirRichardVarneyhaththisdayshownhimselfsomuchcaptivatedwiththeseladiesofours，thathereisourDuchessofRutlandsayshewillcarryhispoorinsanewifenofartherthanthelake，plungeherintotenantthecrystalpalacesthattheenchantednymphtoldusof，andreturnajollywidower，todryhistearsandtomakeupthelossamongourtrain。Howsayyou，mylord？WehaveseenVarneyundertwoorthreedifferentguises——youknowwhatarehisproperattributes——thinkyouheiscapableofplayinghisladysuchaknave\'strick？\"
Leicesterwasconfounded，butthedangerwasurgent，andareplyabsolutelynecessary。\"Theladies，\"hesaid，\"thinktoolightlyofoneoftheirownsex，insupposingshecoulddeservesuchafate;ortooillofours，tothinkitcouldbeinflicteduponaninnocentfemale。\"
\"Hearhim，myladies，\"saidElizabeth;\"likeallhissex，hewouldexcusetheircrueltybyimputingficklenesstous。\"
\"SaynotUS，madam，\"repliedtheEarl。\"Wesaythatmeanerwomen，likethelesserlightsofheaven，haverevolutionsandphases;butwhoshallimputemutabilitytothesun，ortoElizabeth？\"
Thediscoursepresentlyafterwardsassumedalessperiloustendency，andLeicestercontinuedtosupporthispartinitwithspirit，atwhateverexpenseofmentalagony。SopleasingdiditseemtoElizabeth，thattheCastlebellhadsoundedmidnighteresheretiredfromthecompany，acircumstanceunusualinherquietandregularhabitsofdisposingoftime。Herdeparturewas，ofcourse，thesignalforbreakingupthecompany，whodispersedtotheirseveralplacesofrepose，todreamoverthepastimesoftheday，ortoanticipatethoseofthemorrow。