l come out from the interview higher and
stronger in self-esteem."

"You talk as if I were some country squire who would stand abashed and
awe-struck before his King; but remember, my worthy Colonel, I have
lived a good deal inside the tabernacle, and its mysteries are no
secrets to _me_.

"Reason the more for what I say!" broke in Harcourt; "your deference
will not obliterate your judgment; your just respect will not alloy your
reason."

"I'll talk to the King, sir, as I talk to you," said Glencore,
passionately; "nor is the visit of my seeking. I have long since done
with courts and those who frequent them. What can royalty do for _me?_
Upton and yourself may play the courtier, and fawn at levees; you have
your petitions to present, your favors to beg for; you want to get this,
or be excused from that: but I am no supplicant; I ask for no place, no
ribbon. If the King speak to me about my private affairs, he shall be
answered as I would answer any one who obtrudes his rank into the place
that should only be occupied by friendship."

"It may be that he has some good counsel to offer."

"Counsel to offer me!" burst in Glencore, with increased warmth. "I
would no more permit any man to give me advice unasked than I would
suffer him to go to my tradespeople and pay my debts for me. A man's
private sorrows are his debts,--obligations between himself and his own
heart. Don't tell me, sir, that even a king's prerogative absolves him
from the duties of a gentleman."

While he uttered these words, he continued to fill and empty his
wine-glass several times, as if passion had stimulated his thirst; and
now his flashing eyes and his heightened color betrayed the effect of
wine.

"Let us stroll out into the cool air," said Harcourt. "See what a
gorgeous night of stars it is!"

"That you may resume your discourse on patience and resignation!" said
Glencore, scoffingly. "No, sir. If I must listen to you, let me have at
least the aid of the decanter. Your bitter maxims are a bad substitute
for olives, but I must have wine to swallow them."

"I never meant them to be so distasteful to you," said Harcourt,
good-humoredly.

"Say, rather, you troubled your head little whether they were or not,"
replied Glencore, whose voice was now thick from passion and drink
together. "You and Upton, and two or three others, presume to lecture
_me_--who, because gifted, if you call it gifted--I'd say cursed--ay,
sir, cursed with coarser