y the Commander-in-Chief."

"You will insist on it," said Bryan, in reply to the agent, "but--"

"There now, M'Mahon," said the latter, "that will do; good day to you."

"I think it is a very harsh sentence, Fethertonge; will you touch the
bell?"

"I don't know, sir," replied the other, ringing as he spoke; "Neville's
testimony was very strong against him, and the breaking of the glass did
not certainly look like sobriety."

"I had one other word to say, gentlemen," added M'Mahon, "if you'll
allow me, now that I'm here."

Fethertonge looked at him with a face in which might be read a painful
but friendly rebuke for persisting to speak, after the other had changed
the subject. "I rather think Mr. Chevydale would prefer hearing it some
other time, Bryan."

"But you know the proverb, sir," said Bryan, smiling, "that there's no
time like the present; besides it's only a word."

"What is it?" asked the landlord.

"About the leases, sir," replied M'Mahon, "to know when it would be
convanient for you to sign them."

Chevydale looked, from Bryan to the agent, and again from the agent to
Bryan, as if anxious to understand what the allusion to leases meant.
At this moment a servant entered, saying, "The horses are at the door,
gentlemen."

"Come some other day, M'Mahon," said Fethertonge; "do you not see that
we are going out to ride now--going on our canvass? Come to my office
some other day; Mr. Chevydale will remain for a considerable time in the
country now, and you need not feel so eager in the matter."

"Yes, come some other day, Mr.--Mr.--ay--M'Mahon; if there are leases
to sign, of course I shall sign them; I am always anxious to do my duty
as a landlord. Come, or rather Fethertonge here will manage it. You know
I transact no business here; everything is done at his office, unless
when he brings me papers to sign. Of course I shall sign any necessary
paper."

Bryan then withdrew, after having received another friendly nod of
remonstrance, which seemed to say, "Why will you thus persist, when you
see that he is not disposed to enter into these matters now? Am I not
your friend?" Still, however, he did not feel perfectly at ease with the
result of his visit. A slight sense of uncertainty and doubt crept over
him, and in spite of every effort at confidence, he found that that
which he had placed in Fethertonge, if it did not diminish, was most
assuredly not becoming stronger.

CHAPTER XVI.---A Spar Be