as he
was, would have liked to oblige him. But he was quick enough to see--
with the memory of more than one failure to warn him--that his only
chance with Mr Bickers was, at all costs, not to quarrel.

"You are fortunate in your short memory; it is a most convenient gift."

"It's one, at any rate, I would like to cultivate with regard to any
unpleasantness there may have been between you and me, Bickers," said
Railsford.

This was not a happy speech, and Mr Bickers accepted it with a laugh.

"Quite so; I can understand that. It happens, however, that I have come
to assist in prolonging your memory with regard to that unpleasantness.
I'm sorry to interfere with your good intentions, but it cannot be
helped this time."

"Really," said Railsford, feeling his patience considerably taxed, "all
this is very perplexing. Would you mind coming to the point at once,
Bickers?"

"Not at all. When I saw you yesterday I asked you to look at a letter I
had with me."

"Oh, yes; I remember now. I was greatly taken up with the sports, and
had no time then. I felt sure you would understand."

"I understood perfectly. I have brought the letter for you now," and he
held it out.

Railsford took it with some curiosity, for Mr Bickers's manner, besides
being offensive, was decidedly mysterious.

"Am I to read it?"

"Please."

The letter was a short one, written in an evidently disguised hand:

"Sir,--The name of the person who maltreated you lately is perfectly
well-known in Railsford's house. No one knows his name better than Mr
Railsford himself. But as the house is thriving by what has occurred,
it is to nobody's interest to let out the secret. The writer of this
knows what he is speaking about, and where to find the proofs.--A
Friend."

Railsford read this strange communication once or twice, and then
laughed.

"It's amusing, isn't it?" sneered Mr Bickers.

"It's absurd!" said Railsford.

"I thought you would say so," said Bickers, taking back the letter and
folding it up. "For all that, I should like to know the name of the
person referred to."

"You surely do not mean, Bickers, that you attach any importance to a
ridiculous joke like that?"

"I attach just the importance it deserves, Railsford."

"Then I would put it in the fire, Bickers."

Mr Bickers's face darkened. Long ere now he had calculated on reducing
the citadel of his adversary's good-humour, and now that it still held
out, he felt h