I apprehend is your displeasure
with me for having gone to the man. I have done no good, and it
prevents me from running over to Holdesbury to see Nevil, for if "shindy
letters," as you call them, are bad, shindy meetings are worse. I should
be telling him my opinion of Shrapnel, he would be firing out, I should
retort, he would yell, I should snap my fingers, and he would go into
convulsions. I am convinced that a cattle-breeder ought to keep himself
particularly calm. So unless I have further orders from you I refrain
from going.

'The dinner was enthusiastic. I sat three hours among my Commons, they
on me for that length of time--fatiguing, but a duty.'

Cecil subscribed his name with the warmest affection toward his uncle.

The brevity of the second letter had not brought him nearer to the truth
in rescinding the picturesque accessories of his altercation with Dr.
Shrapnel, but it veraciously expressed the sentiments he felt, and that
was the palpable truth for him.

He posted the letter next morning.

CHAPTER XXXI. SHOWING A CHIVALROUS GENTLEMAN SET IN MOTION

About noon the day following, on board the steam-yacht of the Countess
of Menai, Cecil was very much astonished to see Mr. Romfrey descending
into a boat hard by, from Grancey Lespel's hired cutter. Steam was up,
and the countess was off for a cruise in the Channel, as it was not a
race-day, but seeing Mr. Romfrey's hand raised, she spoke to Cecil, and
immediately gave orders to wait for the boat. This lady was a fervent
admirer of the knightly gentleman, and had reason to like him, for he
had once been her champion. Mr. Romfrey mounted the steps, received
her greeting, and beckoned to Cecil. He carried a gold-headed horsewhip
under his arm. Lady Menai would gladly have persuaded him to be one
of her company for the day's voyage, but he said he had business in
Bevisham, and moving aside with Cecil, put the question to him abruptly:
'What were the words used by Shrapnel?'

'The identical words?' Captain Baskelett asked. He could have tripped
out the words with the fluency of ancient historians relating what
great kings, ambassadors, or Generals may well have uttered on State
occasions, but if you want the identical words, who is to remember them
the day after they have been delivered? He said:

'Well, as for the identical words, I really, and I was tolerably
excited, sir, and upon my honour, the identical words are rather
difficult to....' He g