think he would have waited--at least till she looked less of a rank
lunatic?

After a minute or so, the wise youth was but a fly buzzing about
Richard's head. Three weeks of separation from Lucy, and an excitement
deceased, caused him to have soft yearnings for the dear lovely home-
face. He told Adrian it was his intention to go down that night. Adrian
immediately became serious. He was at a loss what to invent to detain
him, beyond the stale fiction that his father was coming to-morrow. He
rendered homage to the genius of woman in these straits. "My aunt," he
thought, "would have the lie ready; and not only that, but she would take
care it did its work."

At this juncture the voice of a cavalier in the Row hailed them, proving
to be the Honourable Peter Brayder, Lord Mountfalcon's parasite. He
greeted them very cordially; and Richard, remembering some fun they had
in the Island, asked him to dine with them; postponing his return till
the next day. Lucy was his. It was even sweet to dally with the delight
of seeing her.

The Hon. Peter was one who did honour to the body he belonged to. Though
not so tall as a west of London footman, he was as shapely; and he had a
power of making his voice insinuating, or arrogant, as it suited the
exigencies of his profession. He had not a rap of money in the world;
yet he rode a horse, lived high, expended largely. The world said that
the Hon. Peter was salaried by his Lordship, and that, in common with
that of Parasite, he exercised the ancient companion profession. This
the world said, and still smiled at the Hon. Peter; for he was an
engaging fellow, and where he went not Lord Mountfalcon would not go.