at a dozen fools in a jury box may
think. Besides, there's Sally--she'll have something to say, I'll
swear."

"Sally? What the deuce has she to do with us?"

"More than you think, Mr. Dorrimore. She's as like as not to make out
that the quarrel was forced upon the fellow to get him out of the way.
You see, she's set her heart on him."

"Sally Salisbury's heart? What, has the saucy jade got one?" demanded
Dorrimore derisively.

"She thinks so, and with Sally that's as good as having one. You might
find it prudent to take refuge in France for a while till the affair
blows over. It would be bad enough to kill the man right out, but a
thousand times worse to leave him to bleed to death. I'm not so sure
what Jarvis might say to save his skin. You see, he was paid to bring
his man to Spring Gardens, so that you might affront him and get him to
fight you," added Rofflash dropping his voice significantly.

"Devil take it! Where's a surgeon to be got?" returned Dorrimore in
alarm.

"Leave it to me, sir. I can take him to a doctor who'll attend him and
who'll hold his tongue, which is more to the purpose. It'll mean a few
guineas, but 'twill be money well spent."

"See to it, then, Rofflash. Where's the man to be found?"

"His house is on London Bridge. The tide's running down fairly, and the
waterman ought to get us to the bridge in half an hour."

Dorrimore assented gloomily. He was thinking that the gratification of
his spite would cost him a pretty penny. Not only would the doctor,
Rofflash and Jarvis have to be paid for their silence, but the waterman
also.

Vane's wound was roughly bandaged, and he was taken to the boat still
unconscious. The journey by water was made, and he was landed safely at
the foot of London Bridge and consigned to the care of Dr. Mountchance,
whose scruples at taking charge of a wounded man who might probably die
in his house were easily overcome.

A few days later the following paragraph appeared in the _Daily Post_:

"We learn that an affair of honour has taken place between A----d
D----e, Esqr., of the Temple, and Mr. L----t V----e, a young
gentleman lately come from Cambridge University, in which the said
young gentleman made the acquaintance of the Templar's sword,
causing him temporary inconvenience. The cause of the difference
was the fair S----y S----y, well known to many men of fashion."

It was this paragraph which sent Lavinia into a parox