enneby.

"Yes, I do. He fought that battle just as if he was sure of winning,
though he knew he was going to lose. Give me the man that can fight a
losing battle. Anybody can play whist with four by honours in his own
hands."

"I don't object to four by honours either," said Dockwrath; "and
that's the game we are going to play to-morrow."

"And lose the rubber after all," said Moulder.

"No, I'm blessed if we do, Mr. Moulder. If I know anything of my own
profession--"

"Humph!" ejaculated Moulder.

"And I shouldn't be here in such a case as this if I didn't;--but if
I do, Lady Mason has no more chance of escape than--than--than that
bit of muffin has." And as he spoke the savoury morsel in question
disappeared from the fingers of the commercial traveller.

For a moment or two Moulder could not answer him. The portion of food
in question was the last on his plate; it had been considerable in
size, and required attention in mastication. Then the remaining gravy
had to be picked up on the blade of the knife, and the particles of
pickles collected and disposed of by the same process. But when all
this had been well done, Moulder replied--

"That may be your opinion, Mr. Dockwrath, and I dare say you may know
what you're about."

"Well; I rather think I do, Mr. Moulder."

"Mine's different. Now when one gentleman thinks one thing and
another thinks another, there's nothing for it in my mind but for
each gentleman to back his own. That's about the ticket in this
country, I believe."

"That's just as a gentleman may feel disposed," said Dockwrath.

"No it ain't. What's the use of a man having an opinion if he won't
back it? He's bound to back it, or else he should give way, and
confess he ain't so sure about it as he said he was. There's no
coming to an end if you don't do that. Now there's a ten-pound note,"
and Moulder produced that amount of the root of all evil; "I'll put
that in John Kenneby's hands, and do you cover it." And then he
looked as though there were no possible escape from the proposition
which he had made.

"I decline to have anything to do with it," said Kenneby.

"Gammon," said Moulder; "two ten-pound notes won't burn a hole in
your pocket."

"Suppose I should be asked a question about it to-morrow; where
should I be then?"

"Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Kenneby," said Dockwrath; "I'm not going
to bet."

"You ain't, ain't you?" said Moulder.

"Certainly not, Mr. Moulder. If you unde