nspection, there was
enough seen to show him that he was not a subject for either dictation
or raillery. The hard, stern, thin-lipped mouth, the knitted brows, the
orbits marked with innumerable wrinkles, and an ugly scar, evidently
from a sabre, that divided one whisker, and reached from nigh the ear
to the chin, presented enough to show that he might easily have chanced
upon a more genial fellow-traveller.

Skeff knew that the Neapolitan service had for some years back attracted
adventurers from various countries. Poles, Americans, with Irish and
Hungarian refugees, had flocked to the scene of what they foresaw must
be a struggle, and taken their side with the Royalists or against
them as profit or inclination prompted. Now this man's name, M'Caskey,
proclaimed him as Irish or Scotch; and the chances were, in either case,
if a renegade from his own country, he would not be over well disposed
towards one who represented the might and majesty of England.

"If I could only let him see," thought Skeff, "that I am one of those
fellows who have done everything and know every one, a thorough man of
the world, and no red-tapist, no official pendant, we should get on all
the better." He puffed away at his cigar as he thus mused, turning over
in his mind by what species of topic he should open acquaintance with
his companion.

"That's good tobacco," said M'Caskey, without opening his eyes. "Who's
smoking the cheroot?"

"I am. May I offer you one?"

"A dozen if you like," said the Colonel, giving himself a shake, and
sitting bolt upright.

Skeff held out his cigar-case, and the other coolly emptied it, throwing
the contents into his hat, which lay on the cushion in front of him.

"When old Olozaga was Captain-General of Cuba, he always supplied me
with havannahs; but when O'Donnell's party came into power, I came down
to cheroots, and there I have been ever since. These are not bad."

"They are considered particularly good, sir," said Skeff, coldly.

"_That_ I will not say; but I own I am not easy to please either in
wine, women, or tobacco."

"You have had probably large experiences of all three?"

"I should like much to meet the man who called himself my equal."

"It might be presumptuous in me, perhaps, to stand forward on such
ground; but I, too, have seen something of life."

"You! you!" said M'Caskey, with a most frank impertinence in his tone.

"Yes, sir, I, I,--Mr. Skeffington Darner, Her Majesty's Repres