His Grace — page 199: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HIS GRACE. 193 few entertainments and declined most of the few in- vitations that I did receive. Neither Hurstbourne nor Lady Charles told me much about their social doings, while Nora was only careful to assure me that she was enjoying herself. She was a good deal admired, I heard. Hurstbourne lost a considerable sum over the Derby: somehow or other, he always managed to lose, and how he managed to payI hardly knew. As far as I could see, it was only by means of most undesirable and costly devices that we were able to meet the current expenses of two large establishments. But it was useless to remonstrate with him; because he was possessed by the gambler’s spirit and clung to the gambler’s last forlorn hope of setting himself straight by one brilliant and successful stroke. My poor dear Hurstbourne was and is one of the best fellows in England, and, like so many of the best fellows in Eng- land, he was bent upon committing moral suicide. I could not save him, though I was thoroughly ashamed of my inaptitude—if there was any consolation in that. I need scarcely say that he had made arrangements for being present at every event of the Ascot meetings and if these did not include the hire of a house in the neighborhood of the course, that was only because I res- olutely refused to provide him with the necessary funds. However, I could not prevent him from hiring a box, and I gathered that he intended the box to be tenanted not only by his mother but by Lady Deverell and the two charming young ladies whose movements were supposed to be under Lady Deverell’s control. It was with no little chagrin that he informed me, one 13 Eomichoo cS im (ECO)