Wine and Spirit Merchant, and a Member of the
Society of Friends. This Costigan came crying to Mr. Skinner,--crying in
the shop, sir,--and we have not proceeded against him or the other, as
neither were worth powder and shot."

It was whilst Mr. Tatham was engaged in telling this story that a third
knock came to the door, and there entered an athletic gentleman in a
shabby braided frock, bearing in his hand a letter with a large blotched
red seal.

"Can I have the honour of speaking with Major Pendennis in private?"
he began--"I have a few words for your ear, sir. I am the bearer of a
mission from my friend Captain Costigan,"--but here the man with the
bass voice paused, faltered, and turned pale--he caught sight of the red
and well-remembered face of Mr. Tatham.

"Hullo, Garbetts, speak up!" cried Mr. Foker, delighted.

"Why, bless my soul, it is the other party to the bill!" said Mr.
Tatham. "I say, sir; stop I say." But Garbetts, with a face as blank as
Macbeth's when Banquo's ghost appears upon him, gasped some inarticulate
words, and fled out of the room.

The Major's gravity was also entirely upset, and he burst out laughing.
So did Mr. Foker, who said, "By Jove, it was a good 'un." So did the
attorney, although by profession a serious man.

"I don't think there'll be any fight, Major," young Foker said; and
began mimicking the tragedian. "If there is, the old gentleman--your
name Tatham?--very happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Tatham--may send
the bailiffs to separate the men;" and Mr. Tatham promised to do so. The
Major was by no means sorry at the ludicrous issue of the quarrel. "It
seems to me, sir," he said to Mr. Foker, "that you always arrive to put
me into good-humour."

Nor was this the only occasion on which Mr. Foker this day was destined
to be of service to the Pendennis family. We have said that he had
the entree of Captain Costigan's lodgings, and in the course of the
afternoon he thought he would pay the General a visit, and hear from his
own lips what had occurred in the conversation, in the morning, with Mr.
Pendennis. Captain Costigan was not at home. He had received permission,
nay, encouragement from his daughter, to go to the convivial club at
the Magpie Hotel, where no doubt he was bragging at that moment of his
desire to murder a certain ruffian; for he was not only brave, but he
knew it too, and liked to take out his courage, and, as it were, give it
an airing in company.

Cos