's arm.

"Oh, with all my heart," said the other. "But, Mr. Gaunt, do not you
take these idle reports to heart: _I_ never do. What the Devil, where
are you carrying me to? For Heaven's sake, let this foolish business go
no farther."

For he found Griffith was taking him to the very room where Neville was.

Griffith deigned no reply; he just opened the door of the room in
question, and walked the tale-bearer into the presence of the
tale-maker. George Neville rose and confronted the pair with a vast
appearance of civility; but under it a sneer was just discernible.

The rivals measured each other from head to foot, and then Neville
inquired to what he owed the honor of this visit.

Griffith replied,--

"He tells me you told him Miss Peyton has exchanged horses with you."

"Oh, you indiscreet person!" said George, shaking his finger playfully
at Galton.

"And, by the same token, has plighted her troth to you."

"Worse and worse," said George. "Galton, I'll never trust you with any
secrets again. Besides, you exaggerate."

"Come, Sir," said Griffith, sternly, "this Ned Galton was but your tool,
and your mouth-piece; and therefore I bring him in here to witness my
reply to _you_: Mr. George Neville, you are a liar and a scoundrel."

George Neville bounded to his feet like a tiger.

"I'll have your life for those two words," he cried.

Then he suddenly governed himself by a great effort.

"It is not for me to bandy foul terms with a Cumberland savage," said
he. "Name your time and place."

"I will. Ned Galton, you may go. I wish to say a few words in private to
Mr. Neville."

Galton hesitated.

"No violence, Gentlemen: consider."

"Nonsense!" said Neville. "Mr. Gaunt and I are going to fight: we are
not going to brawl. Be so good as to leave us."

"Ay," said Griffith; "and if you repeat a word of all this, woe be to
your skin!"

As soon as he was gone, Griffith Gaunt turned very grave and calm, and
said to George Neville,--

"The Cumberland savage has been better taught than to expose the lady he
loves to gossiping tongues."

Neville colored up to the eyes at this thrust.

Griffith continued,--

"The least you can do is to avoid fresh scandal."

"I shall be happy to cooeperate with you so far," said Neville, stiffly.
"I undertake to keep Galton silent; and for the rest, we have only to
name an early hour for meeting, and confide it to but one discreet
friend apiece who will attend us to the f