down with a slap on the table, as
though the more emphatically to confirm his words.

"Who are you, may I ask, who pronounce so finally on my prospects?"
cried Tony.

"Who are we,--who are we?" said the Chief, in a horror at the query.
"Will you tell him, Mr. Brand?"

The other was, however, ringing violently at the bell, and did not hear
the question.

"Have you sent to Scotland Yard?" asked he of the servant who came to
his summons. "Tell Willis to be ready to accompany the officer, and make
his charge."

"The gentleman asks who we are!" said Baynes, with a feeble laugh.

"I ask in no sort of disrespect to you," said Butler, "but simply to
learn in what capacity I am to regard you. Are you magistrates? Is this
a court?"

"No, sir, we are not magistrates," said Brand; "we are heads of
departments,--departments which we shall take care do not include within
their limits persons of your habits and pursuits."

"You can know very little about my habits or pursuits. I promised your
hall-porter I 'd kick him, and I don't suspect that either you or your
little friend there would risk any interference to protect him."

"My Lord!" said a messenger, in a voice of almost tremulous terror,
while he flung open both inner and outer door for the great man's
approach. The person who entered with a quick, active step was an
elderly man, white-whiskered and white-haired, but his figure well set
up, and his hat rakishly placed a very little on one side; his features
were acute, and betokened promptitude and decision, blended with a sort
of jocular humor about the mouth, as though even State affairs did not
entirely indispose a man to a jest.

"Don't send that bag off to-night, Baynes, till I come down," said he,
hurriedly; "and if any telegrams arrive, send them over to the house.
What's this policeman doing at the door?--who is refractory?"

"This--young man"--he paused, for he had almost said "gentleman"--"has
just threatened an old and respectable servant of the office with a
personal chastisement, my Lord."

"Declared he 'd break every bone in his body," chimed in Brand.

"Whose body?" asked his Lordship.

"Willis's, my Lord,--the hall-porter,--a man, if I mistake not,
appointed by your Lordship."

"I said I 'd kick him," said Tony, calmly.

"Kick Willis?" said my Lord, with a forced gravity, which could not,
however, suppress a laughing twinkle of his keen gray eyes,--"kick
Willis?"

"Yes, my Lord; he does no