great respect to shake hands with Sir Brian, says, "I am glad to
see you looking so well, sir," and scarcely takes any notice of Barnes.
That Mr. Barnes Newcome was an individual not universally beloved, is a
point of history of which there can be no doubt.

"You have not told me how Clara is, my good fellow," continues Barnes.
"I have heard all about her meeting with that villain, Jack Belsize."

"Don't call names, my good fellow," says Lord Kew. "It strikes me you
don't know Belsize well enough to call him by nicknames or by other
names. Lady Clara Pulleyn, I believe, is very unwell indeed."

"Confound the fellow! How dared he to come here?" cries Barnes, backing
from this little rebuff.

"Dare is another ugly word. I would advise you not to use it to the
fellow himself."

"What do you mean?" says Barnes, looking very serious in an instant.

"Easy, my good friend. Not so very loud. It appears, Ethel, that poor
Jack--I know him pretty well, you see, Barnes, and may call him by what
names I like--had been dining to-day with cousin Clive; he and M. de
Florac; and that they went with Jack to the promenade, not in the least
aware of Mr. Jack Belsize's private affairs, or of the shindy that was
going to happen."

"By Jove, he shall answer for it," cries out Barnes in a loud voice.

"I dare say he will, if you ask him," says the other drily; "but not
before ladies. He'd be afraid of frightening them. Poor Jack was always
as gentle as a lamb before women. I had some talk with the Frenchman
just now," continued Lord Kew gaily, as if wishing to pass over this
side of the subject. "Mi Lord Kiou," says he, "we have made your friend
Jac to hear reason. He is a little fou, your friend Jack. He drank
champagne at dinner like an ogre. How is the charmante Miss Clara?
Florac, you see, calls her Miss Clara, Barnes; the world calls her Lady
Clara. You call her Clara. You happy dog, you."

"I don't see why that infernal young cub of a Clive is always meddling
in our affairs," cries out Barnes, whose rage was perpetually being
whipped into new outcries. "Why has he been about this house? Why is he
here?"

"It is very well for you that he was, Barnes," Lord Kew said. "The young
fellow showed great temper and spirit. There has been a famous row, but
don't be alarmed, it is all over. It is all over, everybody may go to
bed and sleep comfortably. Barnes need not get up in the morning to
punch Jack Belsize's head. I'm sorry for your