ction with some pecuniary kindness shown to Sturk, that that
sensible captain had given away any of his money to the surgeon; but
Sturk, in their confidential conference, had hinted something about a
'helping hand,' which Cluffe coughed off, and mentioned that Puddock had
lent him fifteen pounds the week before.

And so he had, though little Puddock was one of the poorest officers in
the corps. But he had no vices, and husbanded his little means
carefully, and was very kindly and off-hand in assisting to the extent
of his little purse a brother in distress, and never added advice when
so doing--for he had high notions of politeness--or, in all his life,
divulged any of these little money transactions.

Sturk stood at his drawing-room window, with his hat on, looking towards
the Phoenix, and waiting for Cluffe's return. When he could stand the
suspense no longer, he went down and waited at his door-steps. And the
longer Cluffe stayed the more did Sturk establish himself in the
conviction that the interview had prospered, and that his ambassador was
coming to terms with Nutter. He did not know that the entire question
had been settled in a minute-and-a-half, and that Cluffe was at that
moment rattling away at backgammon with his arch-enemy, Toole, in a
corner of the club parlour.

It was not till Cluffe, as he emerged from the Phoenix, saw Sturk's
figure stalking in the glimpses of the moon, under the village elm, that
he suddenly recollected and marched up to him. Sturk stood, with his
face and figure mottled over with the shadows of the moving leaves and
the withered ones dropping about him, his hands in his pockets, and a
crown-piece--I believe it was his last available coin just then--shut up
fast and tight in his cold fingers, with his heart in his mouth, and
whistling a little to show his unconcern.

'Well,' said Sturk, 'he won't, of course?'

Cluffe shook his head.

'Very good--I'll manage it another way,' said Sturk, confidently.
'Good-night;' and Sturk walked off briskly towards the turnpike.

'He might have said "thank you," I think,' Cluffe said, looking after
him with a haughty leer--'mixing myself up in his plaguy affairs, and
asking favours of fellows like Nutter.' But just then, having reached
the corner next the Phoenix, Sturk hesitated, and Cluffe, thinking he
might possibly turn back and ask him for money, turned on his heel, and,
like a prudent fellow, trudged rapidly off to his lodgings.

Tool