' he said. 'And in an
hour the carriage will be here to bring you away. Pray be ready for it.'

She answered 'Yes,' and her father walked downstairs and into the hall.
He was searching for his hat and overcoat when Jervase lurched out
of the parlour. His bloodshot eyes and staggering gait showed in what
fashion he had passed the night.

'You're off?' he said, thickly. 'Won't you have some breakfast?'

'No,' said the General. 'Go back to your bottle.'

'Look here,' said Jervase, 'I shall put this all right. I've had the
night to think it over, and I shall effect a compromise. D'ye see? I
shall effect a compromise. It won't cost you a penny, and it won't break
me. I shall have a sleep by and by, and then I shall go and see Stubbs,
and effect a compromise. I hope you don't bear malice, General? You'll
shake hands before you go, won't you?'

'No,' said the General. 'Go back to--your bottle.'

'But I say,' Jervase proceeded, with a drunken tenacity, 'you ain't
going to bear malice, are you, General?'

'Stand out of my way, you drunken beast!' the General responded, 'or
I'll do you a mischief.'

'Oh, if that's the way you're going to take it, all right,' said
Jervase. 'James and me are going to stand the racket--it won't hurt you
either in credit or in pocket, and I don't see what you've got to
be shirty about. It wasn't exactly what you might call a legirrimate
transaction, but there are lots of things in business that are not
legirrimate. See 'em done every day--see 'em done by respec'able
people.'

Boswell by this time had found his hat and overcoat, and was prepared
to go. He turned his back upon his host and re-ascended the stairs and
knocked a second time at Irene's door.

'Is that you, Papa?'

'Yes, it is I. Can you hear me?'

'Oh, yes, distinctly.'

'I shall return for you. Keep your door locked until I come. Jervase has
been drinking and he may annoy you.' With that, he walked back to the
hall, where Jervase, holding on by the handle of the door, was solemnly
swaying to and fro. 'I shall regret,' said Boswell, 'to be forced to use
violence: but if you do not instantly free me of your very disagreeable
presence I shall be compelled to do you damage. Stand on one side, I
tell you. Go!'

There was that in the ring of his voice which pierced to Jervase's
intelligence, bemused as he was, and he staggered back into the parlour.
The General undid the fastenings of the door and walked out into the
keen, br