something which might have had a flavour of yielding, but
which could not have been shown to Emily as an offer on his part
to abandon her; and then he had a general feeling that his letter
had been too grandiloquent,--all arising, no doubt, from a fall in
courage incidental to a sick stomach.

But before he could get out of his hotel a visitor was upon him.
Mr. Hart desired to see him. At this moment he would almost have
preferred to see Captain Stubber. He remembered at the moment that
Mr. Hart was acquainted with Mr. Walker, and that Mr. Walker would
probably have sought the society of Mr. Hart after a late occurrence
in which he, Cousin George, had taken part. He was going across
to breakfast at his club, when he found himself almost forced to
accompany Mr. Hart into a little private room at the left hand of the
hall of the hotel. He wanted his breakfast badly, and was altogether
out of humour. He had usually found Mr. Hart to be an enduring
man, not irascible, though very pertinacious, and sometimes almost
good-natured. For a moment he thought he would bully Mr. Hart, but
when he looked into Mr. Hart's face, his heart misgave him.

"This is a most inconvenient time--," he had begun. But he hesitated,
and Mr. Hart began his attack at once.

"Captain 'Oshspur--sir, let me tell you this von't do no longer."

"What won't do, Mr. Hart?"

"Vat von't do? You know vat von't do. Let me tell you this. You'll be
at the Old Bailey very soon, if you don't do just vat you is told to
do."

"Me at the Old Bailey!"

"Yes, Captain 'Oshspur,--you at the Old Bailey. In vat vay did you
get those moneys from poor Mr. Valker? I know vat I says. More than
three hundred pounds! It was card-sharping."

"Who says it was card-sharping?"

"I says so, Captain 'Oshspur, and so does Mr. Bullbean. Mr. Bullbean
vill prove it." Mr. Bullbean was a gentleman known well to Mr. Hart,
who had made one of the little party at Mr. Walker's establishment,
by means of which Cousin George had gone, flush of money, down among
his distinguished friends in Norfolk. "Vat did you do with poor
Valker's moneys? It vas very hard upon poor Mr. Valker,--very hard."

"It was fair play, Mr. Hart."

"Gammon, Captain 'Oshspur! Vere is the moneys?"

"What business is that of yours?"

"Oh, very well. Bullbean is quite ready to go before a
magistrate,--ready at once. I don't know how that vill help us with
our pretty cousin with all the fortune."

"How will i