," said his wife.

"Yes; that will do. But I think it right to tell Mr Cradell that I
am glad he did not come to me. Your friend, Mr Cradell, did me the
honour of calling on me at the theatre yesterday, at half-past four;
but I was in the slings then and could not very well come down to
him. I shall be happy to see you both any day at five, and to bury
all unkindness with a chop and glass at the Pot and Poker, in Bow
Street."

"I'm sure you're very kind," said Cradell.

"And Mrs Lupex will join us. There's a delightful little snuggery
upstairs at the Pot and Poker; and if Miss Spruce will condescend
to--"

"Oh, I'm an old woman, sir."

"No--no--no," said Lupex, "I deny that. Come, Cradell, what do you
say?--just a snug little dinner for four, you know."

It was, no doubt, pleasant to see Mr Lupex in his present mood,--much
pleasanter than in that other mood of which blood would have been
the consequence: but pleasant as he now was, it was, nevertheless,
apparent that he was not quite sober. Cradell, therefore, did not
settle the day for the little dinner; but merely remarked that he
should be very happy at some future day.

"And now, Lupex, suppose you get off to bed," said his wife. "You've
had a very trying day, you know."

"And you, ducky?"

"I shall come presently. Now don't be making a fool of yourself, but
get yourself off. Come--" and she stood close up against the open
door, waiting for him to pass.

"I rather think I shall remain where I am, and have a glass of
something hot," said he.

"Lupex, do you want to aggravate me again?" said the lady, and
she looked at him with a glance of her eye which he thoroughly
understood. He was not in a humour for fighting, nor was he at
present desirous of blood; so he resolved to go. But as he went he
prepared himself for new battles. "I shall do something desperate,
I am sure; I know I shall," he said, as he pulled off his boots.

"Oh, Mr Cradell," said Mrs Lupex as soon as she had closed the door
behind her retreating husband, "how am I ever to look you in the face
again after the events of these last memorable days?" And then she
seated herself on the sofa, and hid her face in a cambric
handkerchief.

"As for that," said Cradell, "what does it signify,--among friends
like us, you know?"

"But that it should be known at your office,--as of course it is,
because of the gentleman that went down to him at the theatre,--I
don't think I shall ever survive i