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The next night but one after that of the gaiven in Grosvenor Square It was a ball on a scale so nificent that it had been talked about ever since Parliaht since Some people had expressed an opinion that such a ball as this was intended to be could not be given successfully in February Others declared that the money which was to be spent,--an amount which would ,--would give the thing such a character that it would certainly be successful And much more than money had been expended Almost incredible efforts had been reat people, and these efforts had at last been grandly successful
The Duchess of Stevenage had come up fro her daughters, though it has never been her Grace's wont to be in London at this inclement season No doubt the persuasion used with the Duchess had been very strong Her brother, Lord Alfred Grendall, was known to be in great difficulties, which,--so people said,--had been considerably modified by opportune pecuniary assistance And then it was certain that one of the young Grendalls, Lord Alfred's second son, had been appointed to some mercantile position, for which he received a salary which his ht that he was hardly qualified to earn It was certainly a fact that he went to Abchurch Lane, in the City, four or five days a week, and that he did not occupy his ti Where the Duchess of Stevenage went all the world would go And it became known at the last moment, that is to say only the day before the party, that a prince of the blood royal was to be there
How this had been achieved nobody quite understood; but there were rumours that a certain lady's jewels had been rescued fro was done on the same scale The Prime Minister had indeed declined to allow his name to appear on the list; but one Cabinet Minister and two or three under-secretaries had agreed to coht before long be the master of considerable parliamentary interest It was believed that he had an eye to politics, and it is alise to have great wealth on one's own side There had at one tihts had been given When great attempts fail, the failure is disastrous, and may be ruinous But this ball had now been put beyond the chance of failure