ill you allow us to assist you into my private room, sir?" said the
dealer.

"No, I won't," snapped the sufferer.

"But there is a couch there, and I will send for the resident English
doctor."

"If you dare do anything of the kind, confound you, sir, I'll throw
something at you. Can't you see that there is nothing the matter with
me, only I'm in pain."

"But he might relieve you, Burne," said the professor kindly.

"I tell you I don't want to be relieved, sir," cried the little lawyer.
"And don't stand staring at me like that, boy; I'm not killed."

"I am afraid that you are a great deal hurt," said Lawrence, going to
his side and taking his hand.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" groaned the sufferer. "Well, I'm not, boy, not a
bit. There."

"Let me send for a doctor, sir," said the dealer.

"I tell you I will not, man. Do you take me for a Greek or a Turk, or a
heretic? Can't you see that I am an Englishman, sir, one who is never
beaten, and never gives up? There, go on selling your guns."

"Oh, nonsense!" said the professor; "we cannot think of such things with
you in that state."

"State? What state, sir? Here you, Mr What's-your-name, I beg your
pardon. I ought to have known better. Not used to guns. Pens are more
in my way. Confoundedly stupid thing to do. But I've learned more
about a gun now than I should have learned in six months. I beg your
pardon, sir."

"Pray, say no more, sir," replied the dealer; "it is not needed."

"Yes, it is, sir," cried the lawyer fiercely. "Didn't I tell you I was
an English gentleman. An English gentleman always apologises when he is
in the wrong. I apologise. I am very sorry for what I said."

The dealer smiled and bowed, and looked pleased as he handed the
sufferer another glass of wine, which was taken and sipped at intervals
between a few mild _ohs_! and _ssfths_!

"Not a bad wine this. What is it?"

"One of the Greek wines, sir."

"Humph! not bad; but not like our port. Now, you people, go on with
your business, and don't stare at me as if I were a sick man. Here, Mr
What's-your-name, put that gun in a case, and send it round to the
hotel. I've taken a fancy to it."

"Send--this gun, sir?"

"Yes. Didn't I speak plainly? Didn't the professor, my friend here,
say it was a good gun?"

"Yes, sir, yes: it is an excellent piece of the best English make."

"Well, I want a gun, and I suppose any piece would go off as that did if
somebody handl