to
be sure! But what is there to make a howl about?'

'He has got some suborned evidence from somewhere,' James answered,
'some scoundrels who pretend that they were employed by you and me to do
the work.'

'Well,' said John once more, 'what is there in that to make a howl
about? Is there no law in England--is there no way of making a fool and
a knave smart for it, if they see fit to assail the reputation of two
honest men like you and me, James? 'His voice began to take something of
its old ring. 'I wonder at you--tearin' up like a madman at this time o'
night, and in this weather, with a yam like that. Why, man, what's come
to you? Missus,' he turned towards his wife, 'tell one of the wenches to
get James a change, and when he's done that well sit down in quiet, and
talk this matter over.'

'De Blacquaire!' he went on, as his wife left the room to obey his
order. 'De Blacquaire, indeed! Who's De Blacquaire?

It'll go pretty hard with you and me, James, if we can't put down a
pound between us where he can put down twenty shillings. And libel's
libel in this country, James, and them as chooses to talk it can be made
to pay for it And any man as assaults the honest fame of Jack Jervase
has got Jack Jervase to tackle, my lad. I've fowt the Queen's enemies,
and I've fowt my own, and I'll stand fightin' till I die.'

'My dear Jervase,' said the General. 'My dear Mr. James! I need not tell
you, I am sure, how entirely certain I am that a very grievous error
has been made in this matter. But I can't understand--I really
cannot understand--why an absurd charge of that sort should be at
all disturbing to you.' He turned upon Mr. James with an air of mild
remonstrance, and laid a friendly hand upon his shoulder. 'Really,
really, really,' he said, 'I thought you had more courage.'

Mr. James was for the moment entirely deprived of that most useful
quality. What with the chill which was coming upon him after a hasty and
dangerous ride in that pelting rain and bitter wind through which he
had travelled, and what with the perturbation of his spirit, he trembled
like a shaken jelly, and his eyes were full of terror. John Jervase,
obviously with the intent to make a diversion, turned upon him with a
question.

'Didn't you come on horseback? 'he asked. His cousin stared at him with
an idiotic want of apprehension of the question's meaning. 'Didn't you
come on horseback?' Jervase asked more loudly than before.

'I--I suppose s