eld his hand. Again he
paused a moment. "George, you will come and see me?"

"Oh, of course I will."

"A great deal I can bear; a great deal I have borne; but do not be
a coward. I knew you before she did, and have loved you better, and
have treated you better than ever she will do. Of course you will
come?"

He promised her that he would, and then went from her.

On the Saturday morning Captain Stubber was made temporarily happy by
the most unexpected receipt of five hundred pounds.

CHAPTER XII.

THE HUNT BECOMES HOT.

September passed away with Captain Hotspur very unpleasantly. He had
various interviews with Captain Stubber, with Mr. Hart, and with
other creditors, and found very little amusement. Lady Altringham
had written to him again, advising him strongly to make out a
complete list of his debts, and to send them boldly to Sir Harry. He
endeavoured to make out the list, but had hardly the audacity to do
it even for his own information. When the end of September had come,
and he was preparing himself to join the party of distinguished
pheasant-shooters in Norfolk, he had as yet sent no list to
Sir Harry, nor had he heard a word from Humblethwaite. Certain
indications had reached him,--continued to reach him from day to
day,--that Mr. Boltby was at work, but no communication had been made
actually to himself even by Mr. Boltby. When and how and in what form
he was expected to send the schedule of his debts to Sir Harry he
did not know; and thus it came to pass that when the time came for
his departure from town, he had sent no such schedule at all. His
sojourn, however, with the distinguished party was to last only for a
week, and then he would really go to work. He would certainly himself
write to Sir Harry before the end of October.

In the meantime there came other troubles,--various other troubles.
One other trouble vexed him sore. There came to him a note from a
gentleman with whom his acquaintance was familiar though slight,--as
follows:--

DEAR HOTSPUR,--Did I not meet you at the last Goodwood
meeting? If you don't mind, pray answer me the question.
You will remember, I do not doubt, that I did; that I lost
my money too, and paid it.--Yours ever,

F. STACKPOOLE.

He understood it all immediately. The Stackpooles had been at
Humblethwaite. But what business had the man to write letters to him
with the object of getting him into trouble? He did not answer the
note,