different; and, for _my_ part, I withdraw from the bet.'

'Eh--aw! Pass down the claret, if you please. You withdraw from the bet,
then? That means you may pay me three hundred guineas; for d--n me, if
I do! No, no; I am not so young as that. I haven't lost fifteen thousand
on the Derby without gaining some little insight into these matters.
Every bet is a p. p., if not stated to be the reverse. I leave it to any
gentleman in the room.'

'Come, come, De Vere,' said one, 'listen to reason, my boy!'

'Yes, Dudley,' cried another, 'only think over the thing. You must
see----'

'I only wish to see a cheque for three hundred. And I 'll not be done,'

'Sir!' said Upton, springing from his chair, as the blood mounted to his
face and temples, 'did you mean that expression to apply to me?'

'Sit down, Mr. Upton, for the love of Heaven! Sit down; do, sir; his
lordship never meant it at all. See, now, I'll pay the money myself.
Give me a pen and ink. I'll give you a cheque on the bank this minute.
What the devil signifies a trifle like that!' stammered out poor Paul,
as he wiped his forehead with his napkin, and looked the very picture
of terror. 'Yes, my lord and gentlemen of the jury, we agree to pay the
whole costs of this suit.'

A perfect roar of laughter interrupted the worthy attorney, and as it
ran from one end of the table to the other, seemed to promise a happier
issue to this unpleasant discussion.

'There, now,' said honest Paul, 'the Lord be praised, it is all settled!
So let us have another cooper up, and then we 'll join the ladies.'

'Then I understand it thus,' said Lord Dudley: 'you pay the money for
Mr. Upton, and I may erase the bet from my book?'

'No, sir!' cried Upton passionately. 'I pay my own wagers; and if you
still insist----'

'No, no, no!' cried several voices; while, at the same time, to put an
end at once to any further dispute, the party suddenly rose to repair to
the drawing-room.

On passing through the hall, chance, or perhaps design, on Lord Dudley's
part, brought him beside Upton. 'I wish you to understand, once more,'
said he, in a low whisper, 'that I consider this bet to hold.'

'Be it so,' was the brief reply, and they separated.

O'Grady and myself, having dined that day in the country, only arrived
in the Rooneys' drawing-room as the dinner-party was entering it.
Contrary to their wont, there was less of loud talking, less of
uproarious and boisterous mirth, as they came