yourself to work to win money at cards,--and it is awfully
mean to lose more than you have got to pay.

Then at the end the governor said he'd send the beast a
cheque for the amount. You know his way of finishing up,
just like two fellows fighting;--when one has awfully
punished the other he goes up and shakes hands with him.
He did pitch into me,--not abusing me, nor even saying
a word about the money, which he at once promised
to pay, but laying it on to gambling with a regular
cat-o'-nine-tails. And then there was an end of it. He
just asked the fellow's address and said that he would
send him the money. I will say this;--I don't think
there's a greater brick than the governor out anywhere.

I am awfully sorry about Tregear. I can't quite make out
how it happened. I suppose you were too near him, and
Melrose always does rush at his fences. One fellow
shouldn't be too near another fellow,--only it so often
happens that it can't be helped. It's just like anything
else, if nothing comes of it then it's all right. But if
anybody comes to grief then he has got to be pitched into.
Do you remember when I nearly cut over old Sir Simon
Slobody? Didn't I hear about it!

I am awfully glad you didn't smash up Tregear altogether,
because of Mary. I am quite sure it is no good anybody
setting up his back against that. It's one of the things
that have got to be. You always have said that he is a
good fellow. If so, what's the harm? At any rate it has
got to be.

Your affectionate Brother,

GERALD.

I go up in about a week.

CHAPTER LXVI

The Three Attacks

During the following week the communications between Harrington and
Matching were very frequent. There were no further direct messages
between Tregear and Lady Mary, but she heard daily of his progress.
The Duke was conscious of the special interest which existed in his
house as to the condition of the young man, but, after his arrival,
not a word was spoken for some days between him and his daughter on
the subject. Then Gerald went back to his college, and the Duke made
his preparations for going up to town and making some attempt at
parliamentary activity.

It was by no concert that an attack was made upon him from three
quarters at once as he was preparing to leave Matching. On the Sunday
morning during church time,--for on that day Lady Mary went to her
devot