The Md's Daughter Author:M.D. General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1842 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER VII. In the conclusion of our last chapter, we endeavoured to enlighten the reader as to the motives that induced the Duchess to summon de Courcy so suddenly to London. In order, however, to explain these more fully, we must introduce a new character to his notice. One morning, as the Duchess was reflecting on the most likely way of winding her brother to her purpose, and racking her fertile invention for the best excuse to bring him to town, the drawing-room door was thrown open, and Mr. Talbot, announced. " Bore," muttered theDuchess, " how could they think of admitting him ?" " Ah, Talbot, how do you do ? I have not seen you for an age." " It is indeed long, since I have had the hai- piness of beholding your Grace!" returned Mr. Talbot, in a tone which he meant to be soft and insinuating, but which, to a nice ear, would have savoured of cringing. " Your Grace looks more charming than ever." " Oh, no doubt, I do," returned the Duchess and a slight smile of contempt curled her haughty lip. " And the Duke, I trust is well ?" " I believe, perfectly so," yawned her Grace, " but, may I take the liberty of an old friend, and ask you to call some other time, for, reallv. this morning I have letters of importance to write, and the carriage is already at the door'r I know you will excuse me!" " Oh, certainly !" said Mr. Talbot rising, and a smile of a peculiar expression, we would al most say, disfigured his cold and remarkably unprepossessing countenance. " I called merely to congratulate your Grace on the important coming event!" " What event, my dear sir? nothing, I'm sure, very interestin...« less