Hankes is no other than Simeon! It was an old theory of mine, whenever I
saw a fellow doing wonderfully well in the world, without any help from
friends or family, to fancy that one time or other he must have belonged
to what they are so fond of calling 'the Hebrew persuasion'!"

"I wouldn't rake up old memories with him, Grog, if I were you," said
Fisk, coaxingly.

"It ain't my way, Tom Fisk," said Davis, curtly.

"He 'll be at his ease at once when he perceives that you don't intend
to rip up old scores; and he 'll be just as delicate with _you_."

"Delicate with me?" cried Grog, bursting out into a fit of immoderate
laughter. "Well, if that ain't a good one! I wonder what he is! Do you
imagine Fitzroy Kelly is ashamed of being thought a lawyer, or Brodie
of being a surgeon? You must be precious soft, my worthy friend, if you
suppose that I don't know what the world thinks and says of _me_. No,
no, there's no need of what you call delicacy at all. You used to be
made of other stuff than this, Tom Fisk. It's keeping company with
them snobs of half-pay officers, clerks in the Treasury, and Press
reporters-has spoiled you; the demi-gents of the 'Garottaman Club' have
ruined hundreds."

"The Garottaman is one of the first clubs in town," broke in Fisk.

"You 're too much like sailors on a raft for my fancy," said Grog,
dryly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just that you are hungry and have got nothing to eat,--you 're
eternally casting lots who is to be devoured next! But we 'll not fall
out about that. I 've been turning over in my head about this Simmy
Hankes, and I 'd like to have an hour in his company, all alone. Could
you manage to be out of the way to-morrow morning and leave me to
entertain him at breakfast?"

"It will suit my book to a trivet, for I want to go over to Barnes to
look after a yearling I 've got there, and you can tell Hankes that the
colt was taken suddenly ill."

"He 'll not be very curious about the cause of your absence," said Grog,
dryly. "The pleasure of seeing me so unexpectedly will put everything
else out of his head." A grim smile showed the spirit in which he spoke
these words.

It was now very late, and Davis threw himself on a sofa, with his
great-coat over him, and, wishing his friend a goodnight, was soon sound
asleep; nor did he awake till aroused by the maid-servant getting the
room into readiness and arranging the table for breakfast. Then, indeed,
Grog arose and mad