Gibraltar; and she frightened him so that he resigned. I was away at
the time at the baths at Ischia, or I 'd have tried to patch up matters.
Indeed, as I told Mrs. T., I'd have tried to get rid of my Lady, instead
of banishing poor Pemberton, as kind-hearted a creature as ever I met,
and a capital whist-player. Not one of your new-fangled fellows, with
the 'call for trumps' and all the last devices of the Portland, but a
steady player, who never varied--did n't go chopping about, changing
his suits, and making false leads, but went manfully through his hearts
before he opened his spades. We were at Christ Church together. I knew
him for a matter of six-and-thirty years, Mr. L'Estrange, and I
pledge you my word of honor"--here his voice grew tremulous with
agitation--"and in all that time I never knew him revoke!" He drew
his hat over his eyes as he spoke, and leaning back in the seat seemed
almost overcome by his emotions.

"Will you turn in there at the small gate? It is a private entrance
to my grounds. I 'll not ask you to come in to-day, sir. I'm a little
flurried and nervous; but if you 'll join a sick man's dinner at two
o'clock to-morrow--some rice and a chicken and a bit of fish--nothing
more, I promise you. Well, well, I see it does not tempt you. My best
thanks for your pleasant company. Let me see you soon. Take care of
yourself, beware of my Lady, and avoid the moonlight!"

Apparently this little sally seemed to revive the invalid, for he
stepped up the approach to his house with a lively air and waved his
hand pleasantly as he said adieu.

"There's another still!" muttered L'Estrange as he inquired the way to
Mrs. Trumpler's; "and I wish with all my heart it was over."

L'Estrange found Mrs. Trumpler at tea. She was an early diner, and took
tea about six o'clock, after which she went out for an evening drive
over the Campagna. In aspect, the lady was not prepossessing. She was
very red-faced, with large grizzly curls arranged in a straight line
across her forehead, and she wore spectacles of such a size as to give
her somewhat the look of an owl. In figure, she was portly and stout,
and had a stand-up sort of air, that, to a timid or bashful man like the
curate, was the reverse of reassuring.

"I perceive, sir, I am the last on your list," said she, looking at her
watch as he entered. "It is past six."

"I regret, madam, if I have come at an inconvenient hour. Will you
allow me to wait on you to-mor