"I suppose a man is best judge of his own affairs," said Davis, rudely.

Beecher made no reply, and a long and awkward silence ensued.

"Let him have one of the powders in a linseed mash," said Davis, at
last, "and see that the bandages are left on--only a little loose--at
night. Tom must remain with him in the box on the train, and I 'll look
out for you at the station. If we shouldn't meet, come straight to the
Hotel Tirlemont, where all will be ready for you."

"Remember, Grog, I've got no money; you haven't trusted me with a single
napoleon."

"I know that; here's a hundred francs. Look out sharp, for you 'll have
to account for every centime of it when we meet. Dine upstairs here, for
if you go down to the ordinary you 'll be talking to every man Jack you
meet,--ay, you know you will."

"Egad! it's rather late in the day to school me on the score of
manners."

"I 'm not a-talking of manners, I 'm speaking of discretion,--of common
prudence,--things you 're not much troubled with; you 're just as fit to
go alone in life as I am to play the organ at an oratorio."

"Many thanks for the flattery," said Beecher, laughing.

"What would be the good of flattering you?" broke out Grog. "You ain't
rich, that one could borrow from you; you haven't a great house, where
one could get dinners out of you; you 're not even the head of your
family, that one might draw something out of your rank,--you ain't
anything."

"Except _your_ friend, Grog Davis; pray don't rob me of that
distinction," said Beecher, with a polished courtesy the other felt more
cutting than any common sarcasm.

"It's the best leaf in your book, whatever you may think of it," said
Davis, sternly; "and it will be a gloomy morning for you whenever you
cease to be it."

"I don't intend it, old fellow; I 'll never tear up the deed of
partnership, you may rely upon that. The old-established firm of Beecher
and Davis, or Davis and Beecher--for I don't care which--shall last _my_
time, at least;" and he held out his hand with a cordiality that even
Grog felt irresistible, for he grasped and shook it heartily.

"If I could only get you to run straight, I 'd make a man of you," said
Grog, eying him fixedly. "There's not a fellow in England could do as
much for you as I could. There's nobody knows what's in you as I do, and
there's nobody knows where you break down like _me_."

"True, O Grog, every word of it."

"I 'd put you in the first place in the s