the party, and but a few minutes passed before Clodagh and
Nance rose from table and left the room. Then, as the two men were left
alone, Milbanke put into action the resolution that had been gradually
maturing in his mind.

Not without a certain trepidation--not without an embarrassed distaste
for the task--he bent forward in his precise manner, and drawing the
cheque from beneath his plate, began to smooth it out.

"Denis," he said, "I found this on my plate when I came downstairs----"

Asshlin looked up hastily and laughed. He had all the Irishman's
distaste to money as a topic of conversation. He was as sensitive in
the offering of it to another, as in the accepting of it for himself.

"Oh, that's all right!" he said quickly. "Not another word about that,
James--not another syllable."

But Milbanke continued to finger the cheque.

"Denis," he began again, a shade of nervousness audible in his voice,
"I am uncertain how to say what I want to say. I am extremely anxious
not to offend you, and yet I feel--I fear that you may take offence."

Before replying, Asshlin drained the cup of strong tea that stood
beside his plate; then he glanced again at his companion.

"What in thunder are you driving at?" he asked good-humouredly.

Milbanke looked down.

"That's what I want to explain," he answered without raising his head.
"And you must not allow it to offend you. I want you, for the sake of
old friendship, to let me tear this cheque up. I was excited last
night; I infringed on one of my set rules--that of never playing cards
for high stakes. It is for my own sake that I ask permission to do
this. It--it will put me right with myself."

He laughed deprecatingly.

For a second there was no indication that his laboured explanation had
been even heard; then, with alarming suddenness, Asshlin brought his
hand down upon the table, ripping out an oath.

"And where the devil do I come in?" he demanded. "Is it because you see
the place going to rack and ruin that you think you can insult me in my
own house? I'd have you to know that when an Asshlin needs charity, he
will ask for it." In the spasm of rage that had attacked him, his eyes
blazed and the veins in his forehead swelled. Then, suddenly catching a
glimpse of the consternation on his guest's face, he controlled himself
by an effort, and with a loud laugh pushed back his chair and rose.
"Forgive me, James!" he said roughly. "You don't understand--you never
di