ll, good-looking fellow,
with short moustaches. He was--except yourself--the greatest flat I
ever met in the betting-ring; and that's a strong word, Mr. Annesley
Beecher,--ain't it?"

"I suspect you 'd scarcely like to call him a flat to-day, at least, to
his face," said Beecher, angrily.

A look of mingled insolence and contempt was all the answer Davis gave
this speech; and then half filling a tumbler with brandy, he drank it
off, and said slowly,--

"What _I_ would dare to do, _you_ certainly would never suspect,--that
much I 'm well aware of. What _you_ would dare is easily guessed at."

"I don't clearly understand you," said Beecher, timidly.

"_You_ 'd dare to draw me into a quarrel on the chance of seeing me
'bowled over,'" said Davis, with a bitter laugh. "_You_ 'd dare to see
me stand opposite another man's pistol, and pray heartily at the same
time that his hand might n't shake, nor his wrist falter; but I've
got good business habits about me, Master Beecher. If you open that
writing-desk, you 'll own few men's papers are in better order, or more
neatly kept; and there is no satisfaction I could have to offer any one
would n't give me ample time to deposit in the hands of justice seven
forged acceptances by the Honorable Annesley Beecher, and the power of
attorney counterfeited by the same accomplished gentleman's hand."

Beecher put out his hand to catch the decanter of brandy; but Davis
gently removed the bottle, and said, "No, no; that's only Dutch courage,
man; nerve yourself up, and learn to stand straight and manfully, and
when you say, 'Not guilty,' do it with a bold look at the jury box.'"

Beecher dropped into his seat, and buried his head between his hands.

"I often think," said Davis, as he took out his cigar-case and proceeded
to choose a cigar,--"I often think it would be a fine sight when the
swells--the fashionable world, as the newspapers call them--would be
pressing on to the Old Bailey to see one of their own set in the dock.
What nobs there would be on the Bench! All Brookes's and the Wyndham
scattered amongst the bar. The 'Illustrated News' would have a
photographic picture of you, and the descriptive fellows would come out
strong about the way you recognized your former acquaintances in court.
Egad! old Grog Davis would be quite proud to give his evidence in such
company!' How long have you been acquainted with the prisoner in the
dock, Mr. Davis?' cried he, aloud, imitating the f