ried out Clavering.

"Nobody knows anything out of this room," Pendennis answered; and if you
do this favour for me, I hold my tongue. "If not, I'm a man of my word,
and will do what I have said."

"I say, Major," said Sir Francis, with a peculiarly humble smile
"You--You couldn't get me my first quarter in advance, could you, like
the best of fellows? You can do anything with Lady Clavering; and, upon
my oath, I'll take up that bill of Abrams'. The little dam scoundrel,
I know he'll do me in the business--he always does; and if you could do
this for me, we'd see, Major."

"And I think your best plan would be to go down in September to
Clavering to shoot, and take my nephew with you, and introduce him.
Yes, that will be the best time. And we will try and manage about the
advance." (Arthur may lend him that, thought old Pendennis. Confound
him, a seat in Parliament is worth a hundred and fifty pounds.) "And,
Clavering, you understand, of course, my nephew knows nothing about this
business. You have a mind to retire: he is a Clavering man and a good
representative for the borough; you introduce him, and your people vote
for him--you see."

"When can you get me the hundred and fifty, Major? When shall I come and
see you? Will you be at home this evening or to-morrow morning? Will you
have anything here? They've got some dev'lish good bitters in the bar. I
often have a glass of bitters, it sets one up so."

The old Major would take no refreshment; but rose and took his leave of
the Baronet, who walked with him to the door of the Wheel of Fortune,
and then strolled into the bar, where he took a glass of gin and bitters
with the landlady there: and a gentleman connected with the ring (who
boarded at the Wheel of F.) coming in, he and Sir Francis Clavering and
the landlord talked about the fights and the news of the sporting world
in general; and at length Mr. Moss Abrams arrived with the proceeds of
the Baronet's bill, from which his own handsome commission was deducted,
and out of the remainder Sir Francis "stood" a dinner at Greenwich to
his distinguished friend, and passed the evening gaily at Vauxhall.

Meanwhile Major Pendennis, calling a cab in Piccadilly, drove to Lamb
Court, Temple, where he speedily was closeted with his nephew in deep
conversation.

After their talk they parted on very good terms, and it was in
consequence of that unreported conversation, whereof the reader
nevertheless can pretty well guess