resented the cue at his breast. "Does she know you're
there, old fellow; I say, does she know you're there?" The room was full
of men, and the whole thing was done so publicly that Captain Clavering
was almost offended.

"Come, Doodles, you go on with your game," said he; "it's you to
play." Doodles turned to the table, and scientifically pocketed the ball
on which he played; then laid his own ball close under the cushion,
picked up a shilling and put it into his waistcoat pocket, holding a
lighted cigar in his mouth the while, and then he came back to his
friend. "Well, Clavvy, how has it been?"

"Oh, nothing as yet, you know."

"Haven't you seen her?"

"Yes, I've seen her, of course. I'm not the fellow to let the grass grow
under my feet. I've only just come from her house."

"Well, well?"

"That's nothing much to tell the first day, you know."

"Did you let her know you were there? That's the chat. Damme, did you
let her know you were there?"

In answer to this Archie attempted to explain that he was not as yet
quite sure that he had been successful in that particular; but in the
middle of his story Captain Doodles was called off to exercise his skill
again, and on this occasion to pick up two shillings. "I'm sorry for
you, Griggs," he said, as a very young lieutenant, whose last life he
had taken, put up his cue with a look of ineffable disgust, and whose
shilling Doodles had pocketed; "I'm sorry for you, very; but a fellow
must play the game, you know." Whereupon Griggs walked out of the room
with a gait that seemed to show that he had his own ideas upon that
matter, though he did not choose to divulge them. Doodles instantly
returned to his friend. "With cattle of that kind it's no use trying the
waiting dodge," said he. "You should make your running at once, and
trust to bottom to carry you through."

"But there was a horrid little Frenchwoman came in!"

"What; a servant?"

"No; a friend. Such a creature! You should have heard her talk. A kind
of confidential friend she seemed, who called her Julie. I had to go
away and leave her there, of course."

"Ah! you'll have to tip that woman."

"What, with money?"

"I shouldn't wonder."

"It would come very expensive."

"A tenner now and then, you know. She would do your business for you.
Give her a brooch first, and then offer to lend her the money. You'd
find she'll rise fast enough, if you're any hand for throwing a fly."

"Oh! I could do it, yo