eant, scowling at him over his tankard,
thought his eyes a little too close together. He was evidently held in
much esteem by the company for his entrance was hailed with acclaim:

"What, Joe! Joey--ha, Joseph," cried the pompous Josh, "you do come
pat, sir, pat--we'm just a-discussing of the Sex--Gad bless 'em!"

"Dear creeters!" added Horace, fingering his long nose.

"Woman--divine Woman for ever!" said Joseph, "Woman, sirs, man's joy
and curse, his woe and consolation!"

"Sweet creeters!" added Horace. "But William here tells us of a rural
beauty--a peach and a Vanus as you and him's got your peepers on, Joe,
so we, being all friends and jolly dogs, demands the fair one's name."

"One minute and I'm with you," answered the sedate and obsequious
Joseph, "business first, pleasure after!" So saying he beckoned to a
man who had followed him in from the road, a tall dark, gipsy-looking
fellow at sight of whom the Sergeant clenched his fists and murmured
"Zounds!" The obsequious Joe having brought the fellow into an
adjacent corner remote from the noisy company, broke into soft but
fierce speech:

"So you'll follow me--even here, will you?"

"Why for sure, Nick, for sure I'll follow you to----"

"My name's Joe, curse you!"

"Then 'Joe' we'll make it, Nick. And I foller ye for the sake o' past
merry days, Joey, and--a guinea now and then, pal."

The Sergeant, who had risen, sat down again.

"Blackmail, eh?" snarled Joseph.

"Don't go for to be 'arsh, Joey lad--a guinea, come! Or shall I ax
'ee, here afore your fine pals to pipe us a chaunt o' the High Toby----"

"Hold your dirty tongue you----"

"A guinea, pal--say a guinea, come!"

"Take it and be damned!"

"Thank 'ee kindly, Joey, and mind this--now as ever I'm your man if you
should want anyone----" here the fellow made an ugly motion with his
thumb, nodded, winked, and crossing to the door, took himself off.

Sergeant Zebedee was about to follow when he checked himself and
clenched his fists again.

"Begins with a A and ends with another A?" cried one of the company.
"Question remains--who, Joey, who? Speak up, Joseph."

The sedate Joseph had crossed to his companions and now stood glancing
sedately round the merry circle.

"Well, since you ask," he answered, "who should it be but Mistress
Agatha--pretty Mrs. Agatha at the Manor House."

The Sergeant's nostrils widened suddenly and his grim jaws closed with
a snap.

"Such a shape!" r