e about it, as I am
told,' said Ralph, looking eagerly at his questioner. 'I have not heard
it myself, not being in the way of such things, but I have been told
it's even printed--for private circulation--but that's all over town, of
course.'

'It's a lie!' said Sir Mulberry; 'I tell you it's all a lie. The mare
took fright.'

'They SAY he frightened her,' observed Ralph, in the same unmoved and
quiet manner. 'Some say he frightened you, but THAT'S a lie, I know. I
have said that boldly--oh, a score of times! I am a peaceable man, but I
can't hear folks tell that of you. No, no.'

When Sir Mulberry found coherent words to utter, Ralph bent forward
with his hand to his ear, and a face as calm as if its every line of
sternness had been cast in iron.

'When I am off this cursed bed,' said the invalid, actually striking at
his broken leg in the ecstasy of his passion, 'I'll have such revenge as
never man had yet. By God, I will. Accident favouring him, he has marked
me for a week or two, but I'll put a mark on him that he shall carry
to his grave. I'll slit his nose and ears, flog him, maim him for life.
I'll do more than that; I'll drag that pattern of chastity, that pink of
prudery, the delicate sister, through--'

It might have been that even Ralph's cold blood tingled in his cheeks
at that moment. It might have been that Sir Mulberry remembered, that,
knave and usurer as he was, he must, in some early time of infancy, have
twined his arm about her father's neck. He stopped, and menacing with
his hand, confirmed the unuttered threat with a tremendous oath.

'It is a galling thing,' said Ralph, after a short term of silence,
during which he had eyed the sufferer keenly, 'to think that the man
about town, the rake, the ROUE, the rook of twenty seasons should be
brought to this pass by a mere boy!'

Sir Mulberry darted a wrathful look at him, but Ralph's eyes were bent
upon the ground, and his face wore no other expression than one of
thoughtfulness.

'A raw, slight stripling,' continued Ralph, 'against a man whose very
weight might crush him; to say nothing of his skill in--I am right, I
think,' said Ralph, raising his eyes, 'you WERE a patron of the ring
once, were you not?'

The sick man made an impatient gesture, which Ralph chose to consider as
one of acquiescence.

'Ha!' he said, 'I thought so. That was before I knew you, but I was
pretty sure I couldn't be mistaken. He is light and active, I suppose.
Bu