cy. While, on the other hand, to permit him to insinuate
anything on the score of his success at play might be even worse again.
It was a case for very nice management, and so O'Shea thought, as, after
arriving at a door bearing Layton's name on a visiting-card, he took
a turn in the lobby to consider his course of proceeding. The more he
thought over it, the more difficult he found it; in fact, at last he saw
it to be one of those cases in which the eventuality alone can decide
the line to take, and so he gave a vigorous pull at the bell, determined
to begin the campaign at once.

The door was not opened immediately, and he repeated his summons still
louder. Scarcely had the rope quitted his hand, however, when a heavy
bolt was drawn back, the door was thrown wide, and a tall athletic man,
in shirt and trousers, stood before him.

"Well, stranger, you arn't much distressed with patience, that's a
fact," said a strongly nasal accent, while the speaker gave a look of
very fierce defiance at the visitor.

"Am I speaking to Colonel Quackinboss?" asked O'Shea, in some surprise.

"Well, sir, if it ain't him, it's some one in _his_ skin, I'm thinkin'."

"My visit was to Mr. Layton," said the other, stiffly. "Is he at home?"

"Yes, sir; but he 's not a-goin' to see you."

"I came here by his appointment."

"That don't change matters a red cent, stranger; and as I said a'ready,
he ain't a-goin' to see you."

"Oh, then I 'm to understand that he has placed himself in _your_ hands?
You assume to act for him?" said O'Shea, stiffly.

"Well, if you like to take it from that platform, I 'll offer no
objection," said Quackinboss, gravely.

"Am I, or am I not, to regard you as a friend on this occasion?" said
O'Shea, authoritatively.

"I 'll tell you a secret, stranger; you 'll not be your own friend
if you don't speak to me in another tone of voice. I ain't used to be
halloaed at, I ain't."

"One thing at a time, sir," said O'Shea. "When I have finished the
business which brought me here, I shall be perfectly at your service."

"Now I call that talkin' reasonable. Step inside, sir, and take a seat,"
said Quackinboss, whose manner was now as calm as possible.

Whatever irritation O'Shea really felt, he contrived to subdue it in
appearance, as he followed the other into the room.

O'Shea was not so deficient in tact that he could not see his best mode
of dealing with the American was to proceed with every courtesy and