jollities--were knives drawn--a throat in danger--this right band struck
down the uproar, crushed back the coward murder. If I did not join in
your rogueries, it was because they were sneaking and pitiful. I came
as your Patron, not as your Pal; I did not meddle with your secrets--did
not touch your plunder. I owed you nothing. Offal that you are! to me
you owed drink, and meat, and good fellowship. I gave you mirth, and
I gave you Law; and in return ye laid a plot amongst you to get rid
of me;--how, ye white-livered scoundrels? Oho! not by those fists, and
knives, and bludgeons. All your pigeon breasts clubbed together had not
manhood for that. But to palm off upon me some dastardly deed of your
own; by snares and scraps of false evidence--false oaths, too, no
doubt--to smuggle me off to the hangman. That was your precious
contrivance. Once again I am here; but this once only. What for?--why,
to laugh at, and spit at, and spurn you. And if one man amongst you has
in him an ounce of man's blood, let him show me the traitors who planned
that pitiful project, and be they a dozen, they shall carry the mark of
this hand till their carcasses go to the surgeon's scalpel."

He ceased. Though each was now hustling the other towards him, and the
whole pack of miscreants was closing up, like hounds round a wild boar
at bay, the only one who gave audible tongue was that thin splinter of
life called Cutts!

"Look you, General Jas., it was all a mistake your ever coming here.
You were a fine fellow once, particularly in the French way of doing
business--large prizes and lots of row. That don't suit us; we are quiet
Englishmen. You brag of beating and bullying the gentlemen who admit you
amongst them, and of not sharing their plans or risks; but that sort of
thing is quite out of order--no precedent for it. How do we know that
you are not a spy, or could not be made one, since you say you owe us
nothing, and hold us in such scorn? Truth is, we are all sick of you.
You say you only come this once: very well, you have spun your yarn--now
go. That's all we want; go in peace, and never trouble us again.
Gentlemen, I move that General Jas. be expelled this club, and requested
to withdraw."

"I second it," said the man whom Jasper had flung on the table.

"Those who are in favour of the resolution, hold up their
hands;--all--carried unanimously. General Jas. is expelled."

"Expel me!" said Jasper, who in the mean while, swaying to and