"Sir, I am unable to answer your question. It is my first--I would I
may be able to say, and my last--occasion to deal with this class of
people."

"They 're not a bad set, after all; only you must take them in the way
they're used to--the way they understand."

"It is a language I have yet to learn, Mr. Cutbill."

"The sooner your Lordship sets to work at it the better then."

Lord Culduff wheeled round in his chair, and stared with amazement
at the man before him. He saw, however, the unmistakable signs of his
having drunk freely, and his bloodshot eyes declared that the moment was
not favorable for calm discussion.

"It would be as well, perhaps, to adjourn this conversation," said
Culduff.

"I'm for business--anywhere and at any moment. I made one of the best
hits I ever chanced upon after a smash on the Trent Valley line. There
was Boulders--of the firm of Skale and Boulders Brothers--had his
shoulder dislocated and two of his front teeth knocked out. He was lying
with a lot of scantling and barrel-staves over him, and he cried
out, 'Is there any one there?' I said, 'Yes; Cutbill. Tom Cutbill, of
Viceregal Terrace, St. John's Wood.'"

Lord Culduff s patience could stand no more, and he arose with a slight
bow and moved haughtily away. Cutbill, however, was quickly at his
side. "You must hear the rest of this; it was a matter of close on ten
thousand pounds to me, and this is the way it came out--"

"I felicitate you heartily, sir, on your success, but beg I may be
spared the story of it."

"You've heard worse. Egad, I'd not say you haven't told worse. It's not
every fellow, I promise you, has his wits about him at a moment when
people are shouting for help, and an express train standing on its head
in a cutting, and a tender hanging over a viaduct."

"Sir, there are worse inflictions than even this."

"Eh, what?" said Cutbill, crossing his arms on his chest, and looking
fully in the other's face; but Lord Culduff moved quietly on, and,
approaching a table where Ellen was seated, said, "I'm coming to beg for
a cup of tea;" not a trace of excitement or irritation to be detected in
his voice or manner. He loitered for a few moments at the table,
talking lightly and pleasantly on indifferent subjects, and then moved
carelessly away till he found himself near the door, when he made a
precipitate escape and hurried up to his room.

It was his invariable custom to look at himself carefully in the glass
w