refinements----"

The Colonel rolled truculent eye and sprinkled himself with snuff again.

"Master Tom sir--Pancras my lud," said the Sergeant, "I were thinking
p'r'aps you'd play this third venue with his honour?"

"Gad, nunky, 'twould be a joy," murmured the Viscount. So saying he
took the Sergeant's foil. "You'll mind sir, how you disarmed me last
time----"

"'Twas but a trick, Tom, and you were all unsuspecting."

"At least, sir, this time I shall play more cautious." And the
Viscount saluted and fell to his guard, one white hand fanning the air
daintily aloft. The foils crossed and, as the bout progressed, the
Viscount's self-assurance grew, he even pressed the Major repeatedly
and twice forced him to break ground; time and again his point missed
by inches while the Sergeant watched between a smile and a frown and
the Colonel wriggled on his chair again:

"Faith!" cried he, as the foils were lowered by common consent. "The
lad hath a wrist, Jack, and a quick eye for distance--he should make a
fencer one o' these days--with pains----"

"Gad so, sir!" exclaimed the Viscount, a little huffed, "I rejoice to
know it!"

"And though his point wavers out o' the line like a straw i' the wind
and his parade is curst inviting and open, still----"

"Let me perish, what d'ye mean, my lord?"

"Come again, Tom and I'll show you!" said the Major.

"Those are fairly large buttons on your waistcoat. I'll take the top
four. On guard, Tom!"

Again the foils met and almost immediately the Major's blade leapt and
the Sergeant counted "One--two!" The Viscount broke ground, then
lunged in turn and the Sergeant counted again, "Three--four!" The
Viscount stepped back, pitched his foil into a corner and stared at the
Major in rueful amaze, whereupon Lord Cleeve laughed, and, clambering
from the table, clapped him on the shoulder:

"Never be discouraged, Viscount," said he, "never be peevish, sir, in
your place I should ha' fared little better. Few may cope with d'Arcy
o' the Buffs--or Sergeant Zebedee for that matter!"

"Gad love me sir," answered the Viscount smiling, "'twould seem so."

"And now, man Jack, I'm for Sevenoaks on small matter o' business,
moreover 'tis like my lady Carlyon will be thereabouts and young
Marchdale promised to make me known to 'Our Admirable Betty.' Will ye
ride with me, Jack?"

"Why thank'ee George, no--there's my chapter on the Defects of Salient
Angles d'ye see, for one thing