Theremainingthreesidesarecomposedofmansionsthathavepassedawayintodowagerism——tall，darkhouses，withwindow-framesofstone，orpickedoutofalighterred。Littlelightseemstobebehindthoselean，comfortlesscasementsnow，andhospitalitytohavepassedawayfromthosedoorsasmuchasthelacedlacqueysandlink-boysofoldtimes，whousedtoputouttheirtorchesintheblankironextinguishersthatstillflankthelampsoverthesteps。Brassplateshavepenetratedintothesquare——Doctors，theDiddlesexBankWesternBranch——theEnglishandEuropeanReunion，&c——ithasadrearylook——norismyLordSteyne’spalacelessdreary。AllIhaveeverseenofitisthevastwallinfront，withtherusticcolumnsatthegreatgate，throughwhichanoldporterpeerssometimeswithafatandgloomyredface——andoverthewallthegarretandbedroomwindows，andthechimneys，outofwhichthereseldomcomesanysmokenow。ForthepresentLordSteynelivesatNaples，preferringtheviewoftheBayandCapriandVesuviustothedrearyaspectofthewallinGauntSquare。
AfewscoreyardsdownNewGauntStreet，andleadingintoGauntMewsindeed，isalittlemodestbackdoor，whichyouwouldnotremarkfromthatofanyoftheotherstables。Butmanyalittleclosecarriagehasstoppedatthatdoor，asmyinformantlittleTomEaves，whoknowseverything，andwhoshowedmetheplace
toldme。”ThePrinceandPerditahavebeeninandoutofthatdoor，sir。”hehadoftentoldme；“MarianneClarkehasentereditwiththeDukeof。ItconductstothefamouspetitsappartementsofLordSteyne——one，sir，fittedupallinivoryandwhitesatin，anotherinebonyandblackvelvet；thereisalittlebanqueting-roomtakenfromSallust’shouseatPompeii，andpaintedbyCosway——alittleprivatekitchen，inwhicheverysaucepanwassilverandallthespitsweregold。ItwastherethatEgaliteOrleansroastedpartridgesonthenightwhenheandtheMarquisofSteynewonahundredthousandfromagreatpersonageatombre。HalfofthemoneywenttotheFrenchRevolution，halftopurchaseLordGaunt’sMarquisateandGarter——andtheremainder——“butitformsnopartofourschemetotellwhatbecameoftheremainder，foreveryshillingofwhich，andagreatdealmore，littleTomEaves，whoknowseverybody’saffairs，isreadytoaccount。
Besideshistownpalace，theMarquishadcastlesandpalacesinvariousquartersofthethreekingdoms，whereofthedescriptionsmaybefoundintheroad-books——CastleStrongbow，withitswoods，ontheShannonshore；GauntCastle，inCarmarthenshire，whereRichardIIwastakenprisoner——GauntlyHallinYorkshire，whereIhavebeeninformedthereweretwohundredsilverteapotsforthebreakfastsoftheguestsofthehouse，witheverythingtocorrespondinsplendour；andStillbrookinHampshire，whichwasmylord’sfarm，anhumbleplaceofresidence，ofwhichweallrememberthewonderfulfurniturewhichwassoldatmylord’sdemisebyalatecelebratedauctioneer。
TheMarchionessofSteynewasoftherenownedandancientfamilyoftheCaerlyons，MarquisesofCamelot，whohavepreservedtheoldfaitheversincetheconversionofthevenerableDruid，theirfirstancestor，andwhosepedigreegoesfarbeyondthedateofthearrivalofKingBruteintheseislands。Pendragonisthetitleoftheeldestsonofthehouse。ThesonshavebeencalledArthurs，Uthers，andCaradocs，fromimmemorialtime。
Theirheadshavefalleninmanyaloyalconspiracy。
ElizabethchoppedofftheheadoftheArthurofherday，whohadbeenChamberlaintoPhilipandMary，andcarriedlettersbetweentheQueenofScotsandherunclestheGuises。AcadetofthehousewasanofficerofthegreatDukeanddistinguishedinthefamousSaintBartholomewconspiracy。DuringthewholeofMary’sconfinement，thehouseofCamelotconspiredinherbehalf。
ItwasasmuchinjuredbyitschargesinfittingoutanarmamentagainsttheSpaniards，duringthetimeoftheArmada，asbythefinesandconfiscationsleviedonitbyElizabethforharbouringofpriests，obstinaterecusancy，andpopishmisdoings。ArecreantofJames’stimewasmomentarilypervertedfromhisreligionbytheargumentsofthatgreattheologian，andthefortunesofthefamilysomewhatrestoredbyhistimelyweakness。ButtheEarlofCamelot，ofthereignofCharles，returnedtotheoldcreedofhisfamily，andtheycontinuedtofightforit，andruinthemselvesforit，aslongastherewasaStuartlefttoheadortoinstigatearebellion。
LadyMaryCaerlyonwasbroughtupataParisianconvent；theDauphinessMarieAntoinettewashergodmother。Intheprideofherbeautyshehadbeenmarried——sold，itwassaid——toLordGaunt，thenatParis，whowonvastsumsfromthelady’sbrotheratsomeofPhilipofOrleans’sbanquets。TheEarlofGaunt’sfamousduelwiththeCountdelaMarche，oftheGreyMusqueteers，wasattributedbycommonreporttothepretensionsofthatofficerwhohadbeenapage，andremainedafavouriteoftheQueentothehandofthebeautifulLadyMaryCaerlyon。ShewasmarriedtoLordGauntwhiletheCountlayillofhiswound，andcametodwellatGauntHouse，andtofigureforashorttimeinthesplendidCourtofthePrinceofWales。Foxhadtoastedher。MorrisandSheridanhadwrittensongsabouther。Malmesburyhadmadeherhisbestbow；Walpolehadpronouncedhercharming；Devonshirehadbeenalmostjealousofher；butshewasscaredbythewildpleasuresandgaietiesofthesocietyintowhichshewasflung，andaftershehadborneacoupleofsons，shrankawayintoalifeofdevoutseclusion。NowonderthatmyLordSteyne，wholikedpleasureandcheerfulness，wasnotoftenseenaftertheirmarriagebythesideofthistrembling，silent，superstitious，unhappylady。
Thebefore-mentionedTomEaveswhohasnopartinthishistory，exceptthatheknewallthegreatfolksinLondon，andthestoriesandmysteriesofeachfamily
hadfurtherinformationregardingmyLadySteyne，whichmayormaynotbetrue。”Thehumiliations。”Tomusedtosay，“whichthatwomanhasbeenmadetoundergo，inherownhouse，havebeenfrightful；LordSteynehasmadehersitdowntotablewithwomenwithwhomIwouldratherdiethanallowMrs。Eavestoassociate——withLadyCrackenbury，withMrs。Chippenham，withMadamedelaCruchecassee，theFrenchsecretary’swifefromeveryoneofwhichladiesTomEaves——
whowouldhavesacrificedhiswifeforknowingthem——
wastoogladtogetaboworadinnerwiththeREIGNING
FAVOURITEinaword。Anddoyousupposethatthatwoman，ofthatfamily，whoareasproudastheBourbons，andtowhomtheSteynesarebutlackeys，mushroomsofyesterdayforafterall，theyarenotoftheOldGaunts，butofaminoranddoubtfulbranchofthehouse；doyousuppose，IsaythereadermustbearinmindthatitisalwaysTomEaveswhospeaksthattheMarchionessofSteyne，thehaughtiestwomaninEngland，wouldbenddowntoherhusbandsosubmissivelyiftherewerenotsomecause？Pooh！Itellyoutherearesecretreasons。
Itellyouthat，intheemigration，theAbbedelaMarchewhowashereandwasemployedintheQuiberoonbusinesswithPuisayeandTinteniac，wasthesameColonelofMousquetairesGriswithwhomSteynefoughtintheyear’86——thatheandtheMarchionessmetagain——thatitwasaftertheReverendColonelwasshotinBrittanythatLadySteynetooktothoseextremepracticesofdevotionwhichshecarriesonnow；forsheisclosetedwithherdirectoreveryday——sheisatserviceatSpanishPlace，everymorning，I’vewatchedherthere——thatis，I’vehappenedtobepassingthere——anddependonit，there’samysteryinhercase。Peoplearenotsounhappyunlesstheyhavesomethingtorepentof。”
addedTomEaveswithaknowingwagofhishead；“anddependonit，thatwomanwouldnotbesosubmissiveassheisiftheMarquishadnotsomeswordtoholdoverher。”
So，ifMr。Eaves’sinformationbecorrect，itisverylikelythatthislady，inherhighstation，hadtosubmittomanyaprivateindignityandtohidemanysecretgriefsunderacalmface。Andletus，mybrethrenwhohavenotournamesintheRedBook，consoleourselvesbythinkingcomfortablyhowmiserableourbettersmaybe，andthatDamocles，whositsonsatincushionsandisservedongoldplate，hasanawfulswordhangingoverhisheadintheshapeofabailiff，oranhereditarydisease，orafamilysecret，whichpeepsouteverynowandthenfromtheembroideredarrasinaghastlymanner，andwillbesuretodroponedayortheotherintherightplace。
Incomparing，too，thepoorman’ssituationwiththatofthegreat，thereisalwaysaccordingtoMr。Eaves
anothersourceofcomfortfortheformer。Youwhohavelittleornopatrimonytobequeathortoinherit，maybeongoodtermswithyourfatheroryourson，whereastheheirofagreatprince，suchasmyLordSteyne，mustnaturallybeangryatbeingkeptoutofhiskingdom，andeyetheoccupantofitwithnoveryagreeableglances。
“Takeitasarule。”thissardonicoldLaveswouldsay。”thefathersandeldersonsofallgreatfamilieshateeachother。TheCrownPrinceisalwaysinoppositiontothecrownorhankeringafterit。Shakespeareknewtheworld，mygoodsir，andwhenhedescribesPrinceHalfromwhosefamilytheGauntspretendtobedescended，thoughtheyarenomorerelatedtoJohnofGauntthanyouare
tryingonhisfather’scoronet，hegivesyouanaturaldescriptionofallheirsapparent。Ifyouwereheirtoadukedomandathousandpoundsaday，doyoumeantosayyouwouldnotwishforpossession？Pooh！Anditstandstoreasonthateverygreatman，havingexperiencedthisfeelingtowardshisfather，mustbeawarethathissonentertainsittowardshimself；andsotheycan’tbutbesuspiciousandhostile。
“Thenagain，astothefeelingofeldertowardsyoungersons。Mydearsir，yououghttoknowthateveryelderbrotherlooksuponthecadetsofthehouseashisnaturalenemies，whodeprivehimofsomuchreadymoneywhichoughttobehisbyright。IhaveoftenheardGeorgeMacTurk，LordBajazet’seldestson，saythatifhehadhiswillwhenhecametothetitle，hewoulddowhatthesultansdo，andcleartheestatebychoppingoffallhisyoungerbrothers’headsatonce；andsothecaseis，moreorless，withthemall。ItellyoutheyareallTurksintheirhearts。Pooh！sir，theyknowtheworld。”Andhere，haply，agreatmancomingup，TomEaves’shatwoulddropoffhishead，andhewouldrushforwardwithabowandagrin，whichshowedthatheknewtheworldtoo——intheTomeavesianway，thatis。Andhavinglaidouteveryshillingofhisfortuneonanannuity，Tomcouldaffordtobearnomalicetohisnephewsandnieces，andtohavenootherfeelingwithregardtohisbettersbutaconstantandgenerousdesiretodinewiththem。
BetweentheMarchionessandthenaturalandtenderregardofmotherforchildren，therewasthatcruelbarrierplacedofdifferenceoffaith。Theverylovewhichshemightfeelforhersonsonlyservedtorenderthetimidandpiousladymorefearfulandunhappy。Thegulfwhichseparatedthemwasfatalandimpassable。Shecouldnotstretchherweakarmsacrossit，ordrawherchildrenovertothatsideawayfromwhichherbelieftoldhertherewasnosafety。Duringtheyouthofhissons，LordSteyne，whowasagoodscholarandamateurcasuist，hadnobettersportintheeveningafterdinnerinthecountrythaninsettingtheboys’tutor，theReverendMr。TrailnowmyLordBishopofEalingonherladyship’sdirector，FatherMole，overtheirwine，andinpittingOxfordagainstSt。Acheul。Hecried“Bravo，Latimer！Wellsaid，Loyola！”alternately；hepromisedMoleabishopricifhewouldcomeover，andvowedhewoulduseallhisinfluencetogetTrailacardinal’shatifhewouldsecede。Neitherdivineallowedhimselftobeconquered，andthoughthefondmotherhopedthatheryoungestandfavouritesonwouldbereconciledtoherchurch——hismotherchurch——asadandawfuldisappointmentawaitedthedevoutlady——adisappointmentwhichseemedtobeajudgementuponherforthesinofhermarriage。
MyLordGauntmarried，aseverypersonwhofrequentsthePeerageknows，theLadyBlancheThistlewood，adaughterofthenoblehouseofBareacres，beforementionedinthisveracioushistory。AwingofGauntHousewasassignedtothiscouple；fortheheadofthefamilychosetogovernit，andwhilehereignedtoreignsupreme；hissonandheir，however，livinglittleathome，disagreeingwithhiswife，andborrowinguponpost-obitssuchmoneysasherequiredbeyondtheverymoderatesumswhichhisfatherwasdisposedtoallowhim。TheMarquiskneweveryshillingofhisson’sdebts。
Athislamenteddemise，hewasfoundhimselftobepossessorofmanyofhisheir’sbonds，purchasedfortheirbenefit，anddevisedbyhisLordshiptothechildrenofhisyoungerson。
As，tomyLordGaunt’sdismay，andthechucklingdelightofhisnaturalenemyandfather，theLadyGaunthadnochildren——theLordGeorgeGauntwasdesiredtoreturnfromVienna，wherehewasengagedinwaltzinganddiplomacy，andtocontractamatrimonialalliancewiththeHonourableJoan，onlydaughterofJohnJohnes，FirstBaronHelvellyn，andheadofthefirmofJones，Brown，andRobinson，ofThreadneedleStreet，Bankers；
fromwhichunionsprangseveralsonsanddaughters，whosedoingsdonotappertaintothisstory。