d of it? Haven't
I told you the affair is all right? and what does all right mean,
eh?--what does it mean?"

"I know what it ought to mean," said I, angrily.

"So do I, and so do most men in this island, sir. It means twelve
paces under the Battery wall, fire together, and as many shots as the
aggrieved asks for. That's all right, isn't it?"

"In one sense it is so," said I, with a mock composure.

"Well, that's the only sense I ever meant to consider it by. Go back now
to your tea, or your sugar-and-water, or whatever it is; and when you
come home to-night, step into my room, and we'll have a cosey chat and
a cigar. There 's one or two trifling things that I don't understand in
this affair, and I put my own explanation on them, and maybe it ain't
the right one. Not that it signifies _now_, you perceive, because
you are here to the fore, and can set them right. But as by this time
to-morrow you might be where--I won't mention'--we may as well put them
straight this evening."

"I'll beat you up, depend upon it," said I, affecting a slap-dash style.
"I can't tell you how glad I am to have fallen into your hands, Rogers.
You suit me exactly."

"Well, it's more than I expected when I saw you first, and I kept saying
to myself, 'Whatever could have persuaded Joe to send me a creature like
that?' To tell you the truth, I thought you were in the cheap funeral
line."

"Droll dog!" said I, while my fingers were writhing and twisting with
passion.

"Not that it's fair to take a fellow by his looks. I'm aware of that,
Potts. But go back to the parlor; that's the second time the maid has
come out to see what keeps you. Go back, and enjoy yourself; maybe you
won't have so pleasant an opportunity soon again."

This was the parting speech of the wretch as he buttoned the collar of
his coat, and with a short nod bade me goodbye, and left me.

"Why did you not ask your friend to take a cup of tea with us?'" said
Kate, as I re-entered the drawing-room.

"Oh! it was the skipper, a rough sort of creature, not exactly made for
drawing-room life; besides, he only came to ask me a question."

"I hope it was not a very unpleasant one, for you look pale and
anxious."

"Nothing of the kind; a mere formal matter about my baggage."

It was no use; from that moment, I was the most miserable of mankind.
What availed it to speculate any longer on the future? How could I
interest myself in what years might bring forth? Hours, and a v