Mr. Raffles seemed greatly to enjoy his own wit, and Swung his leg in a

swaggering manner which was rather too much for his companion's

judicious patience.

"If I remember rightly," Mr. Bulstrode observed, with chill anger, "our

acquaintance many years ago had not the sort of intimacy which you are

now assuming, Mr. Raffles. Any services you desire of me will be the

more readily rendered if you will avoid a tone of familiarity which did

not lie in our former intercourse, and can hardly be warranted by more

than twenty years of separation."

"You don't like being called Nick? Why, I always called you Nick in my

heart, and though lost to sight, to memory dear. By Jove! my feelings

have ripened for you like fine old cognac. I hope you've got some in

the house now. Josh filled my flask well the last time."

Mr. Bulstrode had not yet fully learned that even the desire for cognac

was not stronger in Raffles than the desire to torment, and that a hint

of annoyance always served him as a fresh cue. But it was at least

clear that further objection was useless, and Mr. Bulstrode, in giving

orders to the housekeeper for the accommodation of the guest, had a

resolute air of quietude.

There was the comfort of thinking that this housekeeper had been in the

service of Rigg also, and might accept the idea that Mr. Bulstrode

entertained Raffles merely as a friend of her former master.

When there was food and drink spread before his visitor in the

wainscoted parlor, and no witness in the room, Mr. Bulstrode said--

"Your habits and mine are so different, Mr. Raffles, that we can hardly

enjoy each other's society. The wisest plan for both of us will

therefore be to part as soon as possible. Since you say that you

wished to meet me, you probably considered that you had some business

to transact with me. But under the circumstances I will invite you to

remain here for the night, and I will myself ride over here early

to-morrow morning--before breakfast, in fact, when I can receive any

Communication you have to make to me."

"With all my heart," said Raffles; "this is a comfortable place--a

little dull for a continuance; but I can put up with it for a night,

with this good liquor and the prospect of seeing you again in the

morning. You're a much better host than my stepson was; but Josh owed

me a bit of a grudge for marrying his mother; and between you and me

there was never anything but kindness."




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