semaid had no
wish to leave; and as for the lady's maid, she would remain as long as
she could to console her poor mistress, and accept what she was inclined
to give her in return, in any way of clothes, dresses, etcetera,
although, of course, she could not hurt her character by remaining too
long in a family where there was no carriage, or gentlemen out of
livery. Still Mr T did obtain some breakfast, and had just finished
when Monsieur Tagliabue was announced, and was received.

"Ah! Monsieur T, I hope madame is better. Madame Tagliabue did nothing
but cry all last night when she heard the very bad news about de debt,
and all dat."

"Very much obliged to Madame," replied Turnbull, gruffly; "and now, pray
sir, what may be your pleasure?"

"Ah! Monsieur Turnbull, I feel very much for you; but suppose a
gentleman no lose his _honour_, what matter de money?" (Mr Turnbull
stared.) "You see, Monsieur Turnbull, honour be everything to a
gentleman. If a gentleman owe money to one rascally tradesfellow, and
not pay him, dat no great matter; but he always pay de debt of honour.
Every gentleman pay dat. Here, Monsieur Turnbull," (and the little
Frenchman pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket), "be a leetle
note of Madame Turnbull, which she gave to Madame Tagliabue, in which
she acknowledged she owe two hundred pounds for money lost at _ecarte_.
Dat you see, Monsieur Turnbull, be what gentlemen call debt of honour,
which every gentleman pay, or else he lose de character, and be called
one blackguard by all the world. Madame Tagliabue and I too much fond
of you and Madame Turnbull not to save your character, and so I come by
her wish to beg you to settle this leetle note--this _leetle_ debt of
_honour_;" and Monsieur Tagliabue laid the note on the table, with a
very polite bow.

Mr Turnbull examined the note; it was as described by Monsieur
Tagliabue. So, thought he, now the whole story's out; she has been
swindled out of her money by this rascally French couple. "Now,
Monsieur Tagliabue," said he, "allow me to put a question or two before
I pay this money; and if you answer me sincerely, I shall raise no
objection. I think Mrs T has already lost about six hundred pounds at
_ecarte_ before?" (Monsieur T, who presumed that Mrs Turnbull had made
him acquainted with the fact, answered in the affirmative.) "And I think
that two months ago she never knew what _ecarte_ was."

"Dat is true; but the ladies are ver