"You were right," I said. "All is over. Shake hands, old man, for

the last time."

"Yes," replied he, "I will shake hands; for, as sure as I am here,

I bear no malice. But, remember, if, by some impossible accident,

we should give the slip to these blackguards, I'll take the upper

hand of you by fair or foul."

"Oh," said I, "you weary me!"

He seemed hurt, and walked away in silence to the foot of the

stairs, where he paused.

"You do not understand," said he. "I am not a swindler, and I

guard myself; that is all. It may weary you or not, Mr. Cassilis,

I do not care a rush; I speak for my own satisfaction, and not for

your amusement. You had better go upstairs and court the girl; for

my part, I stay here."

"And I stay with you," I returned. "Do you think I would steal a

march, even with your permission?"

"Frank," he said, smiling, "it's a pity you are an ass, for you

have the makings of a man. I think I must be FEY to-day; you

cannot irritate me even when you try. Do you know," he continued

softly, "I think we are the two most miserable men in England, you

and I? we have got on to thirty without wife or child, or so much

as a shop to look after - poor, pitiful, lost devils, both! And

now we clash about a girl! As if there were not several millions

in the United Kingdom! Ah, Frank, Frank, the one who loses this

throw, be it you or me, he has my pity! It were better for him -

how does the Bible say? - that a millstone were hanged about his

neck and he were cast into the depth of the sea. Let us take a

drink," he concluded suddenly, but without any levity of tone.

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