orld, sir, than ingenuity," said the
Major. "What your ingenuity has led to is this public ridicule. You may
not mind that yourself--you may be used to it--but a man should regard
the consequences of his act on others.... My status in Tilling is
completely changed. Changed for the worse, sir."

Puffin emitted his fluty, disagreeable laugh.

"If your status in Tilling depended on a reputation for bloodthirsty
bravery," he said, "the sooner it was changed the better. We're in the
same boat: I don't say I like the boat, but there we are. Have a drink,
and you'll feel better. Never mind your status."

"I've a good mind never to have a drink again," said the Major, pouring
himself out one of his stiff little glasses, "if a drink leads to this
sort of thing."

"But it didn't," said Puffin. "How it all got out, I can't say, nor for
that matter can you. If it hadn't been for me last night, it would have
been all over Tilling that you and I were tipsy as well. That wouldn't
have improved our status that I can see."

"It was in consequence of what you said to Mapp----" began the Major.

"But, good Lord, where's the connection?" asked Puffin. "Produce the
connection! Let's have a look at the connection! There ain't any
connection! Duelling wasn't as much as mentioned last night."

Major Flint pondered this in gloomy, sipping silence.

"Bridge-party at Mrs. Poppit's the day after to-morrow," he said. "I
don't feel as if I could face it. Suppose they all go on making
allusions to duelling and early trains and that? I shan't be able to
keep my mind on the cards for fear of it. More than a sensitive man
ought to be asked to bear."

Puffin made a noise that sounded rather like "Fudge!"

"Your pardon?" said the Major haughtily.

"Granted by all means," said Puffin. "But I don't see what you're in
such a taking about. We're no worse off than we were before we got a
reputation for being such fire-eaters. Being fire-eaters is a wash-out,
that's all. Pleasant while it lasted, and now we're as we were."

"But we're not," said the Major. "We're detected frauds! That's not the
same as being a fraud; far from it. And who's going to rub it in, my
friend? Who's been rubbing away for all she's worth? Miss Mapp, to whom,
if I may say so without offence, you behaved like a cur last night."

"And another cur stood by and wagged his tail," retorted Puffin.

This was about as far as it was safe to go, and Puffin hastened to say
somethin