eecher only
chanced to look at him as he said it, the expression of that face would
have left a legacy of fear behind it for many a day.

"Help yourself," said Grog, passing the bottle across the table,--"help
yourself, and the gin will help you, for I see you are 'pounded.'"

"Pounded? No, not a bit; nothing of the kind," said Beecher, blushing.
"I was thinking how Lackington would take all this; what my Lady would
say to it; whether they 'd regard it seriously, or whether they 'd laugh
at my coming out so far about nothing."

"They'll not laugh, depend on't; take my word for it, they won't laugh,"
said Davis, dryly.

"Well, but if it all comes to nothing,--if it be only a plant to extort
money?"

"Even that ain't anything to laugh at," said Davis. "I 've done a little
that way myself, and yet I never saw the fellow who was amused by it."

"So that you really think I ought to go out and see my brother?"

"I'm sure and certain that we must go," said Davis, just giving the very
faintest emphasis to the "we."

"But it will cost a pot of money, Grog, even though I should travel in
the cheapest way,--I mean, the cheapest way possible for a fellow as
well known as I am."

This was a bold stroke; it was meant to imply far more than the mere
words announced. It was intended to express a very complicated argument
in a mere innuendo.

"That's all gammon," said Grog, rudely. "We don't live in an age of
couriers and extra-post; every man travels by rail nowadays, and nobody
cares whether you take a coupe or a horse-box; and as to being known, so
am I, and almost as well known as most fellows going."

This was pretty plain speaking; and Beecher well knew that Davis's
frankness was always on the verge of the only one thing that was worse
than frankness.

"After all," said Beecher, after a pause, "let the journey be ever so
necessary, I have n't got the money."

"I know you haven't, neither have I; but we shall get it somehow. You
'll have to try Kellett; you 'll have to try Dunn himself, perhaps. I
don't see why you should n't start with him. _He_ knows that you ought
to confer with my Lord; and he could scarce refuse your note at three
months, if you made it--say fifty."

"But, Grog," said Beecher, laying down his cigar, and nerving himself
for a great effort of cool courage, "what would suffice fairly enough
for one, would be a very sorry allowance for two; and as the whole of
my business will be with my own brot