"He takes too long walks for a man of his age," he said, applying
himself vigorously to the dismemberment of a chicken. "Mother, I will
trouble you for some of that game-pie." And then he told her another
anecdote about Vigo.

After luncheon Dick again disappeared, and Mrs. Mayne, who dreaded an
afternoon's _tete-a-tete_ with her husband in his present mood, went
up to her own room, for some feminine business, or to take a nap. Mr.
Mayne, a little mollified by the gruel, which had been flavored
exactly to his liking with a _soupcon_ of rum, was just composing
himself for another doze, when he was roused by the loud pealing of
the hall bell, and the next moment the door was flung open by James,
and Sir Henry Challoner was announced.

It was a dark wintry afternoon, and the library was somewhat sombre:
the fire had died down, owing to Mr. Mayne's drowsiness. In the dim
light Sir Harry's big burly figure looked almost gigantic. Mr. Mayne,
with his little lean shoulders and sharp face, looked beside him much
as a small gray-hound would beside a mastiff.

"How do you do?" began Sir Harry, in his loud voice. "I must apologize
for my intrusion; but I think my name is well known to you, and needs
no introduction. I have often heard of Mr. Mayne, I can assure you."

"You do me too much honor," returned that gentleman, stiffly; and he
glanced at the card in his hand. There it was, "Sir Henry Challoner."
"But what the----" And here his favorite expletive rose to his lips.

"We can scarcely see each other's faces," observed Sir Harry,
cheerfully. "Will you allow me to take the liberty, though I have not
known you for seven years--and hardly for seven minutes!" And then he
seized the poker, and broke up an obstinate piece of coal.

"Actually, in my own house, and before my own eyes," as Mr. Mayne told
his wife afterwards.

"There, now! I have made a glorious blaze. These are first-rate coals.
Now we can have our talk comfortably together. You do not know me
personally; but I dare say you have heard of my father,--Sir Francis
Challoner? Poor old fellow! I am afraid too many people heard of him
in his time."

"Yes, sir: but, as it is hardly becoming of me to say to his son, I
have never heard much good of him. If I remember rightly, he did poor
Challoner a bad turn once."

"Hush, my good friend!" And Sir Harry's ruddy face looked a little
disturbed. "I thought no one but myself and Aunt Catherine knew that
story. It is r