im, what credit to attach to the communication he is to make
us touching my lord here. Under what circumstances did you become
acquainted with Mr. Caryll?"

"I have known him these twelve years," answered Collis promptly; "so has
Stapleton, so has Gascoigne, so have a dozen other gentlemen who could
be produced, and who, like ourselves, were at Oxford with him. For
myself and Stapleton, I can say that our acquaintance--indeed, I should
say our friendship--with Mr. Caryll has been continuous since then, and
that we have visited him on several occasions at his estate of Maligny
in Normandy. That he habitually inhabits the country of his birth is the
reason why Mr. Caryll has not hitherto had the advantage of your grace's
acquaintance. Need I say more to efface the false statement made by my
Lord Rotherby?"

"False? Do you dare give me the lie, sir?" roared Rotherby.

But the duke soothed him. Under his profligate exterior his Grace of
Wharton concealed--indeed, wasted--a deal of shrewdness, ability and
inherent strength. "One thing at a time, my lord," said the president of
the Bold Bucks. "Let us attend to the matter of Mr. Caryll."

"Dons and the devil! Does your grace take sides with him?"

"I take no sides. But I owe it to myself--we all owe it to
ourselves--that this matter should be cleared."

Rotherby leered at him, his lip trembling with anger. "Does the
president of the Bold Bucks pretend to administrate a court of honor?"
he sneered heavily.

"Your lordship will gain little by this," Wharton admonished him, so
coldly that Rotherby belatedly came to some portion of his senses again.
The duke turned to Caryll. "Mr. Caryll," said he, "Sir Harry has given
you very handsome credentials, which would seem to prove you worthy the
hospitality of White's. You have, however, permitted yourself certain
expressions concerning his lordship here, which we cannot allow to
remain where you have left them. You must retract, sir, or make them
good." His gravity, and the preciseness of his diction now, sorted most
oddly with his foppish airs.

Mr. Caryll closed his snuff-box with a snap. A hush fell instantly upon
the company, which by now was all crowding about the little table at
which sat Mr. Caryll and his three friends. A footman who entered at
the moment to snuff the candles and see what the gentlemen might be
requiring, was dismissed the room. When the door had closed, Mr. Caryll
began to speak.

One more attempt