Themarriageatfirstwasahappyandprosperousone。
MyLordGeorgeGauntcouldnotonlyread，butwriteprettycorrectly。HespokeFrenchwithconsiderablefluency；andwasoneofthefinestwaltzersinEurope。Withthesetalents，andhisinterestathome，therewaslittledoubtthathislordshipwouldrisetothehighestdignitiesinhisprofession。Thelady，hiswife，feltthatcourtswerehersphere，andherwealthenabledhertoreceivesplendidlyinthosecontinentaltownswhitherherhusband’sdiplomaticdutiesledhim。Therewastalkofappointinghimminister，andbetswerelaidattheTravellers’thathewouldbeambassadorerelong，whenofasudden，rumoursarrivedofthesecretary’sextraordinarybehaviour。
Atagranddiplomaticdinnergivenbyhischief，hehadstartedupanddeclaredthatapatedefoiegraswaspoisoned。HewenttoaballatthehoteloftheBavarianenvoy，theCountdeSpringbock-Hohenlaufen，withhisheadshavedanddressedasaCapuchinfriar。Itwasnotamaskedball，assomefolkswantedtopersuadeyou。Itwassomethingqueer，peoplewhispered。Hisgrandfatherwasso。Itwasinthefamily。
HiswifeandfamilyreturnedtothiscountryandtookuptheirabodeatGauntHouse。LordGeorgegaveuphispostontheEuropeancontinent，andwasgazettedtoBrazil。Butpeopleknewbetter；heneverreturnedfromthatBrazilexpedition——neverdiedthere——neverlivedthere——neverwasthereatall。Hewasnowhere；hewasgoneoutaltogether。”Brazil。”saidonegossiptoanother，withagrin——“BrazilisSt。John’sWood。RiodeJaneiroisacottagesurroundedbyfourwalls，andGeorgeGauntisaccreditedtoakeeper，whohasinvestedhimwiththeorderoftheStrait-Waistcoat。”ThesearethekindsofepitaphswhichmenpassoveroneanotherinVanityFair。
Twiceorthriceinaweek，intheearliestmorning，thepoormotherwentforhersinsandsawthepoorinvalid。