"Mr. Bygrave is one of the few persons in England who
appreciate my husband's scientific labors. He honors me by wishing to
see my little world of reptiles. May I show it to him?"
"By all means, Lecount," said Noel Vanstone, graciously. "You are
an excellent creature, and I like to oblige you. Lecount's Tank, Mr.
Bygrave, is the only Tank in England--Lecount's Toad is the oldest Toad
in the world. Will you come and drink tea at seven o'clock to-night? And
will you prevail on Miss Bygrave to accompany you? I want her to see my
house. I don't think she has any idea what a strong house it is. Come
and survey my premises, Miss Bygrave. You shall have a stick and rap on
the walls; you shall go upstairs and stamp on the floors, and then you
shall hear what it all cost." His eyes wrinkled up cunningly at the
corners, and he slipped another tender speech into Magdalen's ear, under
cover of the all-predominating voice in which Captain Wragge thanked him
for the invitation. "Come punctually at seven," he whispered, "and pray
wear that charming hat!"
Mrs. Lecount's lips closed ominously. She set down the captain's niece
as a very serious drawback to the intellectual luxury of the captain's
society.
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