avering and
judged him quite correctly. It was not as friends that this pair met:
but the Chevalier worked for his principal, as he would when in the army
have pursued a harassing march, or undergone his part in the danger
and privations of a siege; because it was his duty, and because he
had agreed to it. "What is it he wants?" thought the officers of the
Shepherd's Inn garrison when the Baronet came among them.

His pale face expressed extreme anger and irritation. "So sir," he said,
addressing Altamont, "you've been at your old tricks."

"Which of 'um?" asked Altamont, with a sneer.

"You have been at the Rouge et Noir: you were there last night," cried
the Baronet.

"How do you know,--were you there?" the other said. "I was at the Club
but it wasn't on the colours I played,--ask the Captain,--I've been
telling him of it. It was with the bones. It was at hazard, Sir Francis,
upon my word and honour it was;" and he looked at the Baronet with a
knowing humorous mock humility, which only seemed to make the other more
angry.

"What the deuce do I care, sir, how a man like you loses his money,
and whether it is at hazard or roulette?" screamed the Baronet, with
a multiplicity of oaths, and at the top of his voice. "What I will
not have, sir, is that you should use my name, or couple it with
yours.--Damn him, Strong, why don't you keep him in better order? I tell
you he has gone and used my name again, sir,--drawn a bill upon me, and
lost the money on the table--I can't stand it--I won't stand it. Flesh
and blood won't bear it--Do you know how much I have paid for you, sir?"

"This was only a very little 'un, Sir Francis--only fifteen pound,
Captain Strong, they wouldn't stand another: and it oughtn't to anger
you, Governor. Why, it's so trifling I did not even mention it to
Strong,--did I now, Captain? I protest it had quite slipped my memory,
and all on account of that confounded liquor I took."

"Liquor or no liquor, sir, it is no business of mine. I don't care what
you drink, or where you drink it--only it shan't be in my house. And I
will not have you breaking into my house of a night, and a fellow like
you intruding himself on my company: how dared you show yourself in
Grosvenor Place last night, sir,--and--and what do you suppose my
friends must think of me when they see a man of your sort walking into
my dining-room uninvited, and drunk, and calling for liquor as if you
were the master of the house?"

"Th