oared again while the Major smiled, chuckled, and despite rib
and bandages, laughed until Sergeant Zebedee anxiously bade him have a
care, and announced that Sir Benjamin Tripp, Lord Alvaston, Mr.
Marchdale, Sir Jasper and Captain West had ridden over to see him and
enquire after his health.

"Why then let 'em in, Zeb--let 'em in," said the Major a little
breathlessly, "and bring up a half-dozen or so of the yellow seal----"

"The yellow--ha!" sighed the Colonel, "if the same as last time 'tis
bottled sunshine, 'twill warm the very cockles o' ya' heart, man----"

"Nay, George----"

"Tush, Jack--an you don't drink, I don't----"

"But George----"

"Pish, Jack! You'll never go for to deny ya' old friend?" Here the
door opened and the company entered with a prodigious waving of hats,
flirting of gold-mounted whips and jingling of spurs.

"Major d'Arcy, sir!" cried Sir Benjamin, "your very devoted, humble
servant. My lord, yours! Ods my life, my dear Major d'Arcy, I joy to
see you no worse, sir, after your desperate battle with nine
bloodthirsty ruffians----"

"Four, Sir Benjamin----"

"Common report, sir, makes 'em twelve but I'm assured they were but
nine----"

"Sir, they were but four," repeated the Major gently. "But gentlemen,
you have lost one of your number--Mr. Dalroyd is gone, I understand?"

"Faith and so he has, sir," answered Mr. Marchdale petulantly, "clean
gone and with eight hundred guineas o' mine and more of Alvaston's, not
to mention----"

"But then we never had 'ny luck wi' th' cards, Tony," yawned his
lordship.

"Luck!" spluttered Mr. Marchdale, "luck, d'ye call it----"

"Ahem!" exclaimed Sir Benjamin. "'Tis true Dalroyd is gone, sir, and
suddenly, nor will I disguise the fact that his ahem!--his departure
was in some sort a relief considering the deplorable scene 'twixt him
and Viscount Merivale----"

"And his curst secret ways," added Mr. Marchdale, "and his treatment of
that fellow of his--Dalroyd's room was next mine and I know he's beaten
the poor rogue damnably more than once of late."

"Haw--that's true enough!" exclaimed Captain West, "heard the miserable
dog myself. Dismally a-groaning a-nights. More than once, haw!"

"And yesterday, just as he mounts to ride away Dalroyd must fall
a-kicking the fellow--in the open street and with us standing by! And
kicked him, look you, not as a gentleman should but with such vicious
pleasure in it--faith, 'twas positively indecen