And I shall be delighted
to add that he is a coward."

"There, Compton. Surely that satisfies you?"

Mr Compton, very white and downcast, took up his hat.

"Thank you," said he, with a pitiful affectation of superciliousness; "I
take no notice of young bumpkins like him," and he turned on his heel.

Fastnet stepped before him to the door.

"Look here, Compton," said he, "you're a member of this club. Do we
understand you funk this affair?"

"I've something better to do than bother my head about him. Understand
what you like. Let me go!"

Fastnet opened the door.

"Clear out!" said he, with an oath; "and don't show your face here
again, unless you want to be kicked."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What I say. Be off, or I won't wait till you come again."

Whereupon exit the Honourable Mr Compton with colours dipped.

"Now," said Fastnet, when he had gone, "it is only fair to the youngster
here to say that we agree with him in his opinion of our late member.
Eh, you men?"

General assent greeted the question. Upon which Mr Fastnet suggested
that, as the evening had been spoiled, the house do adjourn.

"You'd better come and have supper with me," said he to Roger.

And Roger, feeling his chance had come, accepted.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY--"

Maxfield Manor, however cheery a place in summer-time, with its
household in full swing, was decidedly desolate in dark November
weather, with only a housekeeper in charge--that is to say, to any one
but the two young persons on whom the honours of the house devolved, it
would have appeared dull.

Mr Armstrong delayed his visit to Oxford for some days after the
departure of the Captain and Roger. There was a good deal of business
to be done in connection with the estate, and as Mr Pottinger
discovered, when the second trustee did take it into his head to look
into things, it was no child's play. He had an uncomfortable manner,
this tutor, of demanding explanations and particulars with all the air
of the proprietor himself, and was not to be put off by any dilatory
tactics on the part of the official with whom the explanation lay. As
in the present case the business transacted was chiefly in connection
with leases and conveyances, the unfortunate lawyer had a rough week of
it, and felt at the end very much like one of his own clients after a
year in Chancery. However, the inquisitor appeared to be fairly well
satisfied when all wa