pinion from you, on a legal point. Wouldn't Linton's heirs,
or representatives, or whatever they 're called, be bound to 'book up'
if Ramekin is beaten in the handicap?"

"The law expressly declares such transactions without its pale, my
Lord," said the judge, rebukingly.

"Well, I can only say," interrupted Upton, "that when we were in
cantonments at Sickmabund, Jack Faris 'of ours' had a heavy stake in
a game of piquet with the major, and just as he was going to count his
point, he gave a tremendous yell, and jumped up from the table. It was a
cobra capella had bitten him in the calf of the leg. Everything was done
for him at once, but all in vain; he swelled up to the size of four, and
died in about two hours. It was rather hard on old Cox, the major,
who had two hundred pounds on it, and a capital hand; and so he made
a representation to the mess, showing that he had seven cards to his
point, with a quint in hearts; that, taking in the ace of clubs, he
should count a quatorze, and, therefore, unquestionably win the game.
The thing was clear as day, and so they awarded him the stakes. Cox
behaved very handsomely, too; for he said, 'If Faris's widow likes to
play the game out, I 'll give her the opportunity when we get back to
England, and back myself, two to one.'"

"The Chevalier Bayard himself could not have done more," said Miss
Kennyfeck, with admirable gravity.

"I must say," resumed the dragoon, "we thought it handsome, for old Cox
was always hard up for money."

"And what is to become of our theatricals, if Mr. Linton should have
been so ill-natured as to drown himself?" said Mrs. White, in a most
disconsolate tone; for she had already made terrible havoc in her
wardrobe to accomplish a Turkish costume.

"Such a disappointment as it will be," sighed Olivia Kennyfeck, who
had speculated on a last effort upon Cashel in a Mexican dress, where,
certes, superfluity should not be the fault.

"You can always make some compensation for the disappointment," said
Lady Kilgoff, "by a fancy ball."

"Oh, delightful! the very thing!" exclaimed several together. "When
shall it be, Mr. Cashel?"

"I am entirely at your orders," said he, bowing courteously.

"Shall we say Tuesday, then?"

"Not Tuesday; we have the race on that morning," said Frobisher; "and
some of us, at least, will be too tired for a ball afterwards."

"Well, Wednesday,--is Wednesday open?"

"Wednesday was fixed for a boat excursion to Holy Is