. Sir Hugo willingly inclined his ear to a
little good-humoured scandal, which he was fond of calling traits de moeurs; but
he was strict in keeping such communications from hearers who might take them
too seriously. Whatever knowledge he had of his nephew's secrets, he had never
spoken of it to Deronda, who considered Grandcourt a pale-blooded mortal, but
was far from wishing to hear how the red corpuscles had been washed out of him.
It was Lush's policy and inclination to gratify everybody when he had no reason
to the contrary; and the baronet always treated him well, as one of those
easy-handled personages who, frequenting the society of gentlemen, without being
exactly gentlemen themselves, can be the more serviceable, like the second-best
articles of our wardrobe, which we use with a comfortable freedom from anxiety.
    »Well, you will let me know the turn of events,« said Sir Hugo, »if this
marriage seems likely to come off after all, or if anything else happens to make
the want of money more pressing. My plan would be much better for him than
burthening Ryelands.«
    »That's true,« said Lush, »only it must not be urged on him - just placed in
his way that the scent may tickle him. Grandcourt is not a man to be always led
by what makes for his own interest; especially if you let him see that it makes
for your interest too. I'm attached to him, of course. I've given up everything
else for the sake of keeping by him, and it has lasted a good fifteen years now.
He would not easily get any one else to fill my place. He's a peculiar
character, is Henleigh Grandcourt, and it has been growing on him of late years.
However, I'm of a constant disposition, and I've been a sort of guardian to him
since he was twenty: an uncommonly fascinating fellow he was then, to be sure -
and could be now, if he liked. I'm attached to him; and it would be a good deal
worse for him if he missed me at his elbow.«
    Sir Hugo did not think it needful to express his sympathy or even assent,
and perhaps Lush himself did not expect this sketch of his motives to be taken
as exact. But how can a man avoid himself as a subject in conversation? And he
must make some sort of decent toilet in words, as in cloth and linen. Lush's
listener was not severe:
