had his name
struck off. After that, the Major swore at the Duke once or twice, and
said Caroline wasn't to go out with him. Suddenly, he insists that she
shall go. Days the poor thing kept crying! One day, he makes her go. She
hasn't the spirit of my Harry or the Countess. By good luck, Van,
who was hunting ferns for some friends of his, met them on Sunday in
Richmond Park, and Van took her away from the Duke. But, Tom, think
of Van seeing a fellow watching her wherever she went, and hearing the
Duke's coachman tell that fellow he had orders to drive his master and
a lady hard on to the sea that night. I don't believe it--it wasn't
Caroline! But what do you think of our finding out that beast of a spy
to be in the Major's pay? We did. Van put a constable on his track; we
found him out, and he confessed it. A fact, Tom! That decided me. If
it was only to get rid of a brute, I determined I 'd do it, and I did.
Strike came to me to get my name for a bill that night. 'Gad, he looked
blanker than his bill when he heard of us two bankrupt. I showed him one
or two documents I'd got ready. Says he: "Never mind; it'll only be a
couple of hundred more in the schedule." Stop, Tom! he's got some of our
blood. I don't think he meant it. He is hard pushed. Well, I gave him a
twentier, and he was off the next night. You 'll soon see all about the
Company in the papers.'

At the conclusion of Andrew's recital, Old Tom thrummed and looked on
the floor under a heavy frown. His mouth worked dubiously, and, from
moment to moment, he plucked at his waistcoat and pulled it down,
throwing back his head and glaring.

'I 've knocked that fellow over once,' he said. 'Wish he hadn't got up
again.'

Andrew nodded.

'One good thing, Nan. He never boasted of our connection. Much obliged
to him.'

'Yes,' said Andrew, who was gladly watching Old Tom's change of mood
with a quiescent aspect.

'Um!--must keep it quiet from his poor old mother.'

Andrew again affirmatived his senior's remarks. That his treatment of
Old Tom was sound, he presently had proof of. The latter stood up, and
after sniffing in an injured way for about a minute, launched out his
right leg, and vociferated that he would like to have it in his power to
kick all the villains out of the world: a modest demand Andrew at once
chimed in with; adding that, were such a faculty extended to him,
he would not object to lose the leg that could benefit mankind so
infinitely, and con