my theme."

"By Jove! And how did you get out of it?"

"I told him I had worn the jacket in my father's smoking-room."

"Ha, ha, ha! that was a good un. Well done, old fellow! I did not
think you had so much presence of mind. You will make your way yet."

Edwards was on the point of protesting that what he said was the fact,
but his guide, philosopher, and friend seemed so much pleased with the
ingenuity of his plea that he could not bear to rob himself of the
credit of it, and so he looked as knowing as he conveniently could, and
chuckled, taking a pride in what five minutes before he was ashamed of.

"That's the worst of cigar-smoking, the smell clings so to the clothes
and hair. Now, a pipe is much easier to get sweet again after, unless,
of course, you carry it about in your pocket. Wore the jacket in your
father's smoking-room about a month ago! and old Cookson was soft enough
to swallow that. How old Slam would chuckle! I must tell him."

"Do you know, I am not quite certain that my tutor did altogether
believe that I had not been smoking," said Edwards, his conscience
stirring again a little bit now that he saw the man who had spoken so
kindly to him incurring the terrible risk of forfeiting Saurin's esteem
through a false imputation of too great credulity. "You see, he's a
good-natured chap, and I think he wanted to believe if he could, and as
my hair and breath did not smell, he gave me the benefit of the doubt."

"Thought it would bring discredit on his house if it were known to
contain a monster who smoked tobacco," said Saurin, "and so was glad to
pretend to believe the papa-smoking-room story. Well, it is possible;
old Cookson may not be so great a fool as he looks. Anyhow, I am glad
for your sake that he did not report you; old Jolliffe would not have
been humbugged. He would have said, `Your jacket stinks of tobacco, and
jackets don't smoke of themselves.' And you would have got it hot, old
fellow, for Jolliffe is mad against smoking."

CHAPTER FOUR.

AN OUTSIDE PROFESSOR.

Saurin's master passion of vanity caused him to be fond of low company.
This may sound odd to some, because many vain people are sycophants, who
will do anything to be seen in the company of persons of title or high
social position, and who cut the acquaintance of old friends, and even
benefactors when they dare and can do without them, when they are of
inferior grade. These are contented to shine with a ref