they absorbed to themselves the attention of the whole company.
Conscious of the prestige his wealth and social position accorded him,
and inflamed by the wine he was drinking, Bulling became increasingly
offensive. The talk degenerated. The stories and songs became more and
more coarse in tone. It was Barney's first experience of a dinner of
this kind, and it filled him with disgust and horror. Even Trent, by no
means inexperienced in these matters, was disgusted with Bulling's tone.
Following Barney's glances and aware of his wandering attention, he was
about to propose a breakup of the party when he was arrested by a look
of rigid and eager attention upon the face of his friend.

"Disgusting brute!" said Trent, in a low voice.

But Barney heeded him not. His attention was concentrated upon Bulling.
He had his glass in his hand.

"Here's to the Lane!" he was saying, "the sweetest little Lane in all
the world!"

"She's divine!" replied Foxmore. "And what a voice! She'll make Canada
famous some day. Where did you discover her, Bulling?"

"In church," replied Bulling solemnly, to the uproarious delight of his
followers. "That's right," he continued, "heard her sing, set things in
motion, and now she's the leading voice in the cathedral. Introduced her
to a few people, and there she is, the finest thing in her line in the
city! Yes, and some day on the continent! A dear, sweet little lane it
is," he continued in a tone of affectionate proprietorship that made
Barney grind his teeth in furious rage.

"That she is," said Smead enthusiastically, "and thoroughly straight,
too!"

"Oh," said Foxmore, "there's no lane but has a turning. And trust
Bulling," he added coarsely, "for finding it out."

"Well," said Bulling, with a knowing smile, "this little Lane is
straight. Of course there may be a slight deflection. Nature's lines run
in curves, you know." And again his wit provoked applauding laughter.
But before the laughter had quite faded out a voice was heard, clear and
cutting.

"Dr. Bulling, you are a base liar!" The words were plainly audible to
every man in the room. A dead silence fell upon the company.

"What?" said the doctor, sitting up straight, as if he had not heard
aright.

"I say you are a cowardly liar!"

"What the deuce do you mean?"

"You have just made an insinuation against the honour of a young lady. I
say again you are a mean and cowardly liar. I want you to say so."

For a moment or two