and uttered in the presence of these gentlemen,"
cried out Mr. Warrington, at the top of his voice, determined that his
opponent should hear.

"You must go and call into his ear, and then he may perchance hear you,"
said one of the younger guests.

"I will take care that his lordship shall understand my meaning, one way
or other," Mr. Warrington said, with much dignity; "and will not suffer
calumnies regarding my relatives to be uttered by him or any other man!"

Whilst Harry was speaking, the little nobleman opposite to him did
not hear him, but had time sufficient to arrange his own reply. He had
risen, passing his handkerchief once or twice across his mouth, and
laying his slim fingers on the table. "Sir," said he, "you will believe,
on the word of a gentleman, that I had no idea before whom I was
speaking, and it seems that my acquaintance, Monsieur de Poellnitz, knew
you no better than myself. Had I known you, believe me that I should
have been the last man in the world to utter a syllable that should give
you annoyance; and I tender you my regrets and apologies, before my Lord
March and Mr. Morris here present."

To these words, Mr. Warrington could only make a bow, and mumble out a
few words of acknowledgment: which speech having made believe to hear,
my lord made Harry another very profound bow, and saying he should have
the honour of waiting upon Mr. Warrington at his lodgings, saluted the
company, and went away.

CHAPTER XXVI. In which we are at a very Great Distance from Oakhurst

Within the precinct of the White Horse Tavern, and coming up to the
windows of the eating-room, was a bowling-green, with a table or two,
where guests might sit and partake of punch or tea. The three gentlemen
having come to an end of their dinner about the same time, Mr. Morris
proposed that they should adjourn to the Green, and there drink a cool
bottle. "Jack Morris would adjourn to the Dust Hole, as a pretext for
a fresh drink," said my lord. On which Jack said he supposed each
gentleman had his own favourite way of going to the deuce. His weakness,
he owned, was a bottle.

"My Lord Chesterfield's deuce is deuce-ace," says my Lord March. "His
lordship can't keep away from the cards or dice."

"My Lord March has not one devil, but several devils. He loves gambling,
he loves horse-racing, he loves betting, he loves drinking, he loves
eating, he loves money, he loves women; and you have fallen into bad
company, Mr.