with more tact, paid no attention to the appeal;
and Beecher, with an immense effort, stammered out, "I have taken the
liberty to call on you. I have come here today in consequence of a
letter--that is, my brother, Lord Lackington--You know my brother?"

"I have that honor, sir."

"Well, in writing to me a few days back, he added a hurried postscript,
saying he had just seen you; that you were then starting for Ireland,
where, on your arrival, it would be well I should wait upon you at
once."

"Did his Lordship mention with what object, sir?"

"I can't exactly say that he did. He said something about your being his
man of business, thoroughly acquainted with all his affairs, and so, of
course, I expected--I believed, at least--that you might be able to lead
the way,--to show me the line of country, as one might call it," added
he, with a desperate attempt to regain his ease by recurring to his
favorite phraseology.

"Really, sir, my engagements are so numerous that I have to throw myself
on the kindness of those who favor me with a call to explain the object
of their visit."

"I haven't got Lackington's letter about me; but if I remember aright,
all he said was, 'See Dunn as soon as you can, and he 'll put you up to
a thing or two,' or words to that effect."

"I regret deeply, sir, that the expressions give me no clew to the
matter in hand."

"If this ain't fencing, my name isn't Davis," said Grog, breaking in.
"You know well, without any going about the bush, what he comes about;
and all this skirmishing is only to see if he's as well 'up' as yourself
in his own business. Now then, no more chaff, but go in at once."

"May I ask who is this gentleman?"

"A friend,--a very particular friend of mine," said Beecher,
quickly,--"Captain Davis."

"Captain Davis," repeated Dunn, in a half voice to himself, as if to
assist his memory to some effort,--"Captain Davis."

"Just so," said Grog, defiantly,--"Captain Davis."

"Does his Lordship's letter mention I should have the honor of a call
from Captain Davis, sir?"

"No; but as he's my own intimate friend,--a gentleman who possesses all
my confidence,--I thought, indeed, I felt, the importance of having his
advice upon any questions that might arise in this interview."

"I 'm afraid, sir, you have subjected your friend to a most unprofitable
inconvenience."

"The match postponed till further notice," whispered Grog.

"I beg pardon, sir," said Dunn, not over