was dead, and my lord and lady
reconciled, in what ear was he to pour his calumnies? It came upon me in
a kind of vision how hugely I had overrated the man's subtlety. He had
his malice still; he was false as ever; and, the occasion being gone
that made his strength, he sat there impotent; he was still the viper,
but now spent his venom on a file. Two more thoughts occurred to me
while yet we sat at breakfast: the first, that he was abashed--I had
almost said, distressed--to find his wickedness quite unavailing; the
second, that perhaps my lord was in the right, and we did amiss to fly
from our dismasted enemy. But my poor master's leaping heart came in my
mind, and I remembered it was for his life we played the coward.

When the meal was over, the Master followed me to my room, and, taking a
chair (which I had never offered him), asked me what was to be done with
him.

"Why, Mr. Bally," said I, "the house will still be open to you for a
time."

"For a time?" says he. "I do not know if I quite take your meaning."

"It is plain enough," said I. "We keep you for our reputation; as soon
as you shall have publicly disgraced yourself by some of your
misconduct, we shall pack you forth again."

"You are become an impudent rogue," said the Master, bending his brows
at me dangerously.

"I learned in a good school," I returned. "And you must have perceived
yourself that with my old lord's death your power is quite departed. I
do not fear you now, Mr. Bally; I think even--God forgive me--that I
take a certain pleasure in your company."

He broke out in a burst of laughter, which I clearly saw to be assumed.

"I have come with empty pockets," says he, after a pause.

"I do not think there will be any money going," I replied. "I would
advise you not to build on that."

"I shall have something to say on the point," he returned.

"Indeed?" said I. "I have not a guess what it will be, then."

"O! you affect confidence," said the Master. "I have still one strong
position--that you people fear a scandal, and I enjoy it."

"Pardon me, Mr. Bally," says I. "We do not in the least fear a scandal
against you."

He laughed again. "You have been studying repartee," he said. "But
speech is very easy, and sometimes very deceptive. I warn you fairly:
you will find me vitriol in the house. You would do wiser to pay money
down and see my back." And with that he waved his hand to me and left
the room.

A little after, my lord cam