'No. But doesn't it occur to you a wife with money--might be cheaper?'

the doctor asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Sir George shrugged his shoulders for answer, and turning from the

table--the servant had withdrawn--brushed the crumbs from his breeches,

and sat staring at the lire, his glass in his hand. 'I suppose--it will

come to that presently,' he said, sipping his wine.

'Very soon,' the doctor answered, drily, 'unless I am in error.' Sir George looked at him. 'Come, doctor!' he said. 'You know something!

What is it?' 'I know that it is town talk that you lost seven thousand last season;

and God knows how many thousands in the three seasons before it!' 'Well, one must live,' Sir George answered lightly.

'But not at that rate.' 'In that state of life, doctor, into which God has been pleased--you

know the rest.' 'In that state of life into which the devil!' retorted the doctor with

heat.' If I thought that my boy would ever grow up to do nothing better

than--than--but there, forgive me. I grow warm when I think of the old

trees, and the old pictures, and the old Halls that you fine gentlemen

at White's squander in a night! Why, I know of a little place in

Oxfordshire, which, were it mine by inheritance--as it is my

brother's--I would not stake against a Canons or a Petworth!' 'And Stavordale would stake it against a bootjack--rather than not play

at all!' Sir George answered complacently.

'The more fool he!' snapped the doctor.

'So I think.' 'Eh?' 'So I think,' Sir George answered coolly. 'But one must be in the

fashion, doctor.' 'One must be in the Fleet!' the doctor retorted. 'To be in the fashion

you'll ruin yourself! If you have not done it already,' he continued

with something like a groan. 'There, pass the bottle. I have not

patience with you. One of these fine days you will awake to find

yourself in the Rules.' 'Doctor,' Soane answered, returning to his point, 'you know something.' 'Well--' 'You know why my lord sent for me.' 'And what if I do?' Dr. Addington answered, looking thoughtfully through

his wine. 'To tell the truth, I do, Sir George, I do, and I wish I did

not; for the news I have is not of the best. There is a claimant to that

money come forward. I do not know his name or anything about him; but

his lordship thinks seriously of the matter. I am not sure,' the doctor

continued, with his professional air, and as if his patient in the other

room were alone in his mind, 'that the vexation attending it has not

precipitated this attack. I'm not--at all--sure of it. And Lady Chatham

certainly thinks so.' Sir George was some time silent. Then, with a fair show of indifference,

'And who is the claimant?' he asked.




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