escendant of an ancient line sate in this delectable place accommodated
with an old copy of Bell's Life in London, much blotted with beer, the
polite Major Pendennis walked into the apartment.

"So it's you, old boy?" asked the Baronet, thinking that Mr. Moss Abrams
had arrived with the money.

"How do you do, Sir Francis Clavering? I wanted to see you, and followed
you here," said the Major, at sight of whom the other's countenance
fell.

Now that he had his opponent before him, the Major was determined to
make a brisk and sudden attack upon him, and went into action at once.
"I know," he continued, "who is the exceedingly disreputable person for
whom you took me, Clavering; and the errand which brought you here."

"It ain't your business, is it?" asked the Baronet, with a sulky
and deprecatory look. "Why are you following me about and taking the
command, and meddling in my affairs, Major Pendennis? I've never done
you any harm, have I? I've never had your money. And I don't choose to
be dodged about in this way, and domineered over. I don't choose it, and
I won't have it. If Lady Clavering has any proposal to make to me, let
it be done in the regular way, and through the lawyers. I'd rather not
have you."

"I am not come from Lady Clavering," the Major said, "but of my own
accord, to try and remonstrate with you, Clavering, and see if you can
be kept from ruin. It is but a month ago that you swore on your honour,
and wanted to get a Bible to strengthen the oath, that you would accept
no more bills, but content yourself with the allowance which Lady
Clavering gives you. All your debts were paid with that proviso, and you
have broken it; this Mr. Abrams has a bill of yours for sixty pounds."

"It's an old bill. I take my solemn oath it's an old bill," shrieked out
the Baronet.

"You drew it yesterday, and you dated it three months back purposely.
By Gad, Clavering, you sicken me with lies, I can't help telling you
so. I've no patience with you, by Gad. You cheat everybody, yourself
included. I've seen a deal of the world, but I never met your equal at
humbugging. It's my belief you had rather lie than not."

"Have you come here, you old--old beast, to tempt me to--to pitch
into you, and--and knock your old head off?" said the Baronet, with a
poisonous look of hatred at the Major.

"What, sir?" shouted out the old Major, rising to his feet and clasping
his cane, and looking so fiercely, that the Baronet's tone