to claim. That you should already take upon yourself the duties of
host here is to be at unnecessary pains. Believe me, that part would be
more becomingly mine. And, by the way, I must not fail to offer you my
little compliment. It is a gratifying surprise to meet you in the dress
of a gentleman, and to see"--with a circular look upon the scattered
bills--"that your necessities have already been so liberally relieved."

I bowed with a smile that was perhaps no less hateful than his own.

"There are so many necessities in this world," said I. "Charity has to
choose. One gets relieved, and some other, no less indigent, perhaps
indebted, must go wanting."

"Malice is an engaging trait," said he.

"And envy, I think?" was my reply.

He must have felt that he was not getting wholly the better of this
passage at arms; perhaps even feared that he should lose command of his
temper, which he reined in throughout the interview as with a red-hot
curb, for he flung away from me at the word, and addressed the lawyer
with insulting arrogance.

"Mr. Romaine," he said, "since when have you presumed to give orders in
this house?"

"I am not prepared to admit that I have given any," replied Romaine;
"certainly none that did not fall in the sphere of my responsibilities."

"By whose orders, then, am I denied entrance to my uncle's room?" said
my cousin.

"By the doctor's, sir," replied Romaine; "and I think even you will
admit his faculty to give them."

"Have a care, sir," cried Alain. "Do not be puffed up with your
position. It is none so secure, Master Attorney. I should not wonder in
the least if you were struck off the rolls for this night's work, and
the next I should see of you were when I flung you alms at a pothouse
door to mend your ragged elbows. The doctor's orders? But I believe I am
not mistaken! You have to-night transacted business with the Count; and
this needy young gentleman has enjoyed the privilege of still another
interview, in which (as I am pleased to see) his dignity has not
prevented his doing very well for himself. I wonder that you should care
to prevaricate with me so idly."

"I will confess so much," said Mr. Romaine, "if you call it
prevarication. The order in question emanated from the Count himself. He
does not wish to see you."

"For which I must take the word of Mr. Daniel Romaine?" asked Alain.

"In default of any better," said Romaine.

There was an instantaneous convulsion in my cousi