very languidly, "that you are troubling the
harmony that is wont to reign here."

His lordship stood still a moment. Then, quite suddenly, he snatched
up a candlestick to hurl at Mr. Caryll. But he had it wrenched from his
hands ere he could launch it.

He stood a moment, discomfited, glowering upon his brother. "My friends
shall wait on you to-night," he repeated.

"You said so before," Mr. Caryll replied wearily. "I shall endeavor to
make them welcome."

His lordship nodded stupidly, and strode to the door. His departure
was observed in silence. On every face he read his sentence. These
men--rakes though they were, professedly--would own him no more for
their associate; and what these men thought to-night not a gentleman in
town but would be thinking the same tomorrow. He had the stupidity
to lay it all to the score of Mr. Caryll, not perceiving that he had
brought it upon himself by his own aggressiveness. He paused, his hand
upon the doorknob, and turned to loose a last shaft at them.

"As for you others, that follow your bell-wether there," and he
indicated his grace, whose shoulder was towards him, "this matter ends
not here."

And with that general threat he passed out, and that snug room at
White's knew him no more.

Major Gascoigne was gathering up the cards that had been flung down when
first the storm arose. Mr. Caryll bent to assist him. And the last voice
Lord Rotherby heard as he departed was Mr. Caryll's, and the words it
uttered were: "Come, Ned; the deal is with you."

His lordship swore through his teeth, and went downstairs heavily.

CHAPTER X. SPURS TO THE RELUCTANT

Before Mr. Caryll left White's--which he did at a comparatively early
hour, that he might be at home to receive Lord Rotherby's friends--not
a man present but had offered him his services in the affair he had upon
his hands. Wharton, indeed, was not to be denied for one; and for the
other Mr. Caryll desired Gascoigne to do him the honor of representing
him.

It was a fine, dry night, and feeling the need for exercise, Mr. Caryll
set out to walk the short distance from St. James's Street to his
lodging, with a link-boy, preceding him, for only attendant. Arrived
home, he was met by Leduc with the information that Sir Richard Everard
was awaiting him. He went in, and the next moment he was in the arms of
his adoptive father.

Greetings and minor courtesies disposed of, Sir Richard came straight to
the affair which h