"My dear Dunn,--As I know of your influence with the people in power--too formal that, perhaps," said he, re-reading it--"as I know what you can do with the dons in Downing Street--that 's far better--I want you to book the bearer--no, that is making a flunkey of him--I want you to secure me a snug thing in the Colonies--or better, a snug Colonial appointment--for my father-in-law--no, for my friend--no, for my old and attached follower, Captain Davis--that's devilish well-rounded, 'old and attached follower, Captain Davis.' When I tell you that I desire he may get something over the hills and far away, you 'll guess at once--you 'll guess at once why--no, guess the reason--no, you 'll see with half an eye how the cat jumps." He threw down his pen at this, and rubbed his hands in an ecstasy of delight. "Climate does n't signify a rush, for he's strong as a three-year-old, and has the digestion of an 'ostrage;' the main thing, little to do, and opportunities for blind hookey. As to outfit, and some money in hand, I 'll stand it. Once launched, if there's only a billiard-table or dice-box in the colony, he 'll not starve."

"Eh, Grog, my boy," cried he, with a laugh, "as the parsons say, 'Salary less an object than a field of profitable labor!' And, by Jove! the grass will be very short, indeed, where you can't get enough to feed on!

There 's no need to give Dunn a caution about reserve, and so forth with him,--he knows Grog well."

Having finished this letter, and placed it carefully in his pocket, he began the other, which, seeing that it was never to be delivered, and only shown to Davis himself, cost him very little trouble in the composition. Still it was not devoid of all difficulty, since, by the expectations it might create in Grog's mind of obtaining the management of the Irish property, it would be actually throwing obstacles in the way of his going abroad. He therefore worded the epistle more carefully, stating it to be his intention that Captain Davis should be his agent at some future time not exactly defined, and requesting Dunn to confer with him as one enjoying his own fullest confidence.

He had but finished the document when a sharp knock at the door announced Davis. "The very man I wanted," said Beecher; "sit down and read that."

Grog took his double eye-glass from his pocket,--an aid to his sight only had recourse to when he meant to scrutinize every word and every letter,--and sat down to read. "Vague enough," said he, as he concluded.

"Small credentials for most men, but quite sufficient for Kit Davis."

"I know that," said Beecher, half timidly; for no sooner in the redoubted presence than he began to tremble at his own temerity.

"This Mr. Dunn is a practical sort of man, they say, so that we shall soon understand each other," said Davis.

"Oh, you'll like him greatly."

"I don't want to like him," broke in Grog; "nor do I want him to like _me_."

"He's a fellow of immense influence just now; can do what he pleases with the Ministry."

"So much the better for him," said Grog, bluntly.

"And for his friends, sir," added Beecher. "He has only to send in a name, and he's sure to get what he asks for, at home or abroad."

"How convenient!" said Grog; and whether it was an accident or not, he directed his eyes full on Beecher as he spoke, and as suddenly a deep blush spread over the other's face. "Very convenient, indeed," went on Grog, while his unrelenting glance never wavered nor turned away. As he stared, so did Beecher's confusion increase, till at last, unable to endure more, he turned away, sick at heart "My Lord Viscount,"

said Grog, gravely, "let me give you a word of counsel: never commit a murder; for if you do, your own fears will hang you."

"I don't understand you," faltered out Beecher.

"Yes, you do; and right well too," broke in Grog, boldly. "What rubbish have you got into your head now, about 'a place' for me? What nonsensical scheme about making me an inspector of this or a collector of that? Do you imagine that for any paltry seven or eight hundred a year I 'm going to enter into recognizance not to do what's worth six times the amount? Mayhap you 'd like to send me to India or to China.

Oh, that's the dodge, is it?" exclaimed he, as the crimson flush now extended over Beecher's forehead to the very roots of his hair. "Well, where is it to be? There 's a place called Bogota, where they always have yellow fever; couldn't you get me named consul there? Oh dear, oh dear!" laughed he out, "how you _will_ go on playing that little game, though you never score a point!"

"I sometimes imagine that you don't know how offensive your language is," said Beecher, whose angry indignation had mastered all his fears; "at least, it is the only explanation I can suggest for your conduct towards myself!"

"Look at it this way," said Grog; "if you always lost the game whenever you played against one particular man, wouldn't you give in at last, and own him for your master? Well, now, that is exactly what you are doing with me,--losing, losing on, and yet you won't see that you're beaten."

"I'll tell you what I see, sir," said Beecher, haughtily,--"that our intercourse must cease."

Was it not strange that this coarse man, reckless in action, headstrong and violent, felt abashed, for the instant, in presence of the dignified manner which, for a passing moment, the other displayed. It was the one sole weapon Grog Davis could not match; and before the "gentleman" he quailed, but only for a second or two, when he rallied, and said, "I want the intercourse as little as you do. I am here for the pleasure of being with my daughter."

"As for that," began Beecher, "there is no need--" He stopped abruptly, something terribly menacing in Grog's face actually arresting his words in the utterance.

"Take you care what you say," muttered Grog, as he approached him, and spoke with a low, guttural growl. "I have n't much patience at the best of times; don't provoke me _now._"

"Will you take this letter,--yes or no?" said Beecher, resolutely.

"I will: seal and address it," said Grog, searching for a match to light the taper, while Beecher folded the letter, and wrote the direction.

Davis continued to break match after match in his effort to strike a light. Already the dusk of declining day filled the room, and objects were dimly descried. Beecher's heart beat violently. The thought that even yet, if he could summon courage for it, he might outwit Grog, sent a wild thrill through him. What ecstasy, could he only succeed!

"Curse these wax contrivances! the common wooden ones never failed,"

muttered Davis. "There goes the fifth."

"If you 'll ring for Fisher--"

An exclamation and an oath proclaimed that he had just burned his finger; but he still persevered.

"At last!" cried he,--"at last!" And just as the flame rose slowly up, Beecher had slipped the letter in his pocket, and substituted the other in its place.

"I'll write 'Private and confidential,'" added Beecher, "to show that the communication is strictly for himself alone." And now the document was duly sealed, and the name "Lackington" inscribed in the corner.

"I 'll start to-night," said Davis, as he placed the letter in his pocket-book; "I may have to delay a day in London, to see Fordyce. Where shall I write to you?"

"I'll talk that over with my Lady," said the other, still trembling with the remnant of his fears. "We dine at six," added he, as Davis arose to leave the room.

"So Lizzy told me," said Davis.

"You don't happen to know if she invited Twining, do you?"

"No! but I hope she didn't," said Grog, sulkily.

"Why so? He's always chatty, pleasant, and agreeable," said Beecher, whose turn it was now to enjoy the other's irritation.

"He's what I hate most in the world," said Davis, vindictively; "a swell that can walk into every leg in the Ring,--that's what he is!" And with this damnatory estimate of the light-hearted, easy-natured Adderley Twining, Grog banged the door and departed.

That social sacrament, as some one calls dinner, must have a strange, mysterious power over our affections and our sympathies; for when these two men next met each other, with napkins on their knees and soup before them, their manner was bland, and even cordial. You will probably say, How could they be otherwise? that was neither the time nor place to display acrimony or bitterness, nor could they carry out in Lizzy's presence the unseemly discussion of the morning. Very true; and their bearing might, consequently, exhibit a calm and decent courtesy; but it did more,--far more; it was familiar and even friendly, and it is to the especial influence of the dinner-table that I attribute the happy change. The blended decorum and splendor--that happy union of tangible pleasure with suggestive enjoyment, so typified by a well-laid and well-spread table--is a marvellous peacemaker. Discrepant opinions blend into harmonious compromise as the savory odors unite into an atmosphere of nutritious incense, and a wider charity to one's fellows comes in with the champagne. Where does diplomacy unbend? where do its high-priests condescend to human feelings and sympathies save at dinner?

Where, save at Mansion House banquets, are great Ministers facetious?

Where else are grave Chancellors jocose and Treasury Lords convivial?

The three who now met were each in their several ways in good spirits: Grog, because he had successfully reasserted his influence over Beecher; Beecher, because, while appearing to be defeated, he had duped his adversary; and Lizzy, for the far better reason that she was looking her very best, and that she knew it. She had, moreover, passed a very pleasant morning; for Mr. Twining had made it his business--doubtless, with much hand-rubbing and many exclamations of "What fun!"--to go amongst all the tradespeople of Baden, proclaiming the arrival of a "millionnaire Milor," and counselling them to repair with all the temptations of their shops to the hotel. The consequence was that Lizzy's drawing-room was like a fair till the hour of dressing for dinner. Jewelry in its most attractive forms, rich lace, silks, velvets, furs, costly embroideries, inlaid cabinets, gems, ancient and modern,--all the knick-knackeries which a voluptuous taste has conceived, all the extravagant inventions of a fashion bent on ruinous expenditure,--were there; fans sparkling with rubies, riding-whips incrusted with turquoises, slippers studded over with pearls. There was nothing wanting; even richly carved meerschaums and walking-sticks were paraded, in the hope that as objects of art and elegance they might attract her favor. Her father had found her dazzled and delighted by all this splendor, and told her that one of the first duties of her high station was the encouragement of art. "It is to you, and such as you, these people look for patronage," said he. "An English peeress is a princess, and must dispense her wealth generously."

I am bound to acknowledge, her Ladyship did not shrink from this responsibility of her station. Without caring for the cost,--as often without even inquiring the price,--she selected what she wished; and rows of pearls, diamond bracelets, rings, and head ornaments covered her dressing-table, while sable and Astrakan cloaks, cashmeres, and Genoa velvets littered every corner of the room. "After all," thought she, as she fixed a jewelled comb in her hair, "it is very nice to be rich; and while delighting yourself you can make so many others happy."

Doubtless, too, there was some reason in the reflection; and in the smiling faces and grateful glances around her she found a ready confirmation of the sentiment. Happily for her at the moment, she did not know how soon such pleasures pall, and, as happily for ourselves, too, is it the law of our being that they should do so, and that no enjoyment is worth the name which has cost no effort to procure, nor any happiness a boon which has not demanded an exertion to arrive at.

If Beecher was startled at the sight of all these costly purchases, his mind was greatly relieved as Grog whispered him that Herr Koch, the banker, had opened a credit for him, on which he might draw as freely as he pleased. The word "Lackington" was a talisman which suddenly converted a sea of storm and peril into a lovely lake only ruffled by a zephyr.

At last the pleasant dinner drew to a close; and as the coffee was brought in, the noise of a carriage beneath the windows attracted them.

"That's _my_ trap," said Davis; "I ordered it for half past eight, exactly."

"But there 's no train at this hour," began Lizzy.

"I know that; but I mean to post all night, and reach Carlsruhe for the first departure in the morning. I 'm due in London on Monday morning,--eh, my Lord?"

"Yes, that you are," said Beecher; "Dublin, Tuesday evening."

"Just so," said Davis, as he arose; "and I mean to keep my time like a pendulum. Can I do any little commission for your Ladyship as I pass through town,--anything at Howell and James's, anything from Storr's?"