'It's all right, I assure your
lordship.'
'I beg your pardon, Mr. Rowley, 'but for the sake of shortness,
would you mind not belording me in private?' said I. 'It will do
very well if you call me Mr. Anne. It is the way of my country, as
I dare say you know.'
Mr. Rowley looked blank.
'But you're just as much a Viscount as Mr. Powl's, are you not?' he
said.
'As Mr. Powl's Viscount?' said I, laughing. 'Oh, keep your mind
easy, Mr. Rowley's is every bit as good. Only, you see, as I am of
the younger line, I bear my Christian name along with the title.
Alain is the Viscount; I am the Viscount Anne. And in giving me
the name of Mr. Anne, I assure you you will be quite regular.'
'Yes, Mr. Anne,' said the docile youth. 'But about the shaving,
sir, you need be under no alarm. Mr. Powl says I 'ave excellent
dispositions.'
'Mr. Powl?' said I. 'That doesn't seem to me very like a French
name.'
'No, sir, indeed, my lord,' said he, with a burst of confidence.
'No, indeed, Mr. Anne, and it do not surely. I should say now, it
was more like Mr. Pole.'
'And Mr. Powl is the Viscount's man?'
'Yes, Mr. Anne,' said he. 'He 'ave a hard billet, he do. The
Viscount is a very particular gentleman. I don't think as you'll
be, Mr. Anne?' he added, with a confidential smile in the mirror.
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