the vehicle clattered over Westminster Bridge.
Mr. Blunt felt so exhausted that he was
compelled to descend at a tavern on the Surrey side
of the bridge and refresh himself with a small
glass of brandy.  He re-entered the coach, making
wry faces, and declaring the liquor abominable.
Constant treated the coachman to a glass of ale,
but did not presume to accompany his master
to the bar of the tavern. He partook, outside,
of a moderate sip of his own from a small
pocket-flask.

"Why didn't you tell me you had something
to drink with you?" said Blunt, pettishly, as
he saw his companion replace the flask in a
side-pocket.

"I could not venture to ask monsieur–––"
began the valet, gravely.

"I dare say you couldn't, Constant. You're a
sly fox, and always keep the best of the game
to yourself. Here, give me the bottle. I have
need of a little Dutch courage tonight."

Mr. Blunt took a pretty heavy draught of the
Dutch courage, which was, indeed, the very
best French cognac. He took a pretty deep
draught of it, for a man of such delicately-strung
nerves.

"Capital brandy," he murmured, smacking
his lips. "You have a talent for buying the
best of everything for yourself. Why on earth
did you allow me to go into that atrocious
gin-palace?"

"It is for monsieur to lead the way."

"And for you constantly and carefully to avoid
following me, and to allow me to fall into the
lions' den. Constant, do you know what I have
to do to-night?"

"To be bold, and to win."

"You have taught me how to manage the one.
I think I can depend on my own presence of
mind for the other  But do you know how
much I want?"

"Monsieur's wants are extensive."

"And so are yours, monsieur the sleeping
partner. Egad, unless I rise from the table a
winner of five thousand pounds I am a ruined
man!"

"Monsieur's creditors indeed are pressing."

"The creditors be hanged,"Francis Blunt,
Esq., returned, with much equanimity.  "It isn't
for them I shall have to sit up till five o'clock
this morning.  But there are debts of honour,
Constant, that must be paid.  I owe Carlton
fifteen hundred. I owe the Italian prince, what's
his name?––Marigliano––a monkey.  I must send
that she-wolf of mine, a hundred pounds before
to-morrow afternoon, or she will be crawling
after me as usual. And then my ready money is
all gone, or nearly so.  I don't think I've got
fifty pounds in my pocket.  I've dropped over
sixty pounds at that school at Clapham,
Rhodo-something House, to pay for that little brat:––
by your advice, Monsieur Jean Baptiste. I tell
you, I must have five thousand pounds out
of Debonnair before sunrise, or I am done. I
must have ready money to go abroad with, and
then Dobree has most of my valuables; and
then there are your wages, Constant."

"And my commission, if monsieur pleases."

"And your commission, most immaculate of
commercial agents.  Five per cent, is it not?
You go abroad with me, Constant, so that you
know I am perfectly safe.  By the way, you
couldn't manage to take the hundred to the
she-wolf to-night, could you?"

"Ready money is not very plentiful," returned
the valet, after some consideration; "but I
think I can contrive to obtemperate, by a
little finessing, to monsieur's demand.  Might
I, however, ask him to promise me one little
thing?"

"What is it, Constant: a rise in your wages?"

"Monsieur's service is sufficiently remunerative,"
answered the valet, and I believe he spoke
with perfect sincerity. "It is not that."

"What then?"

"Not to touch the dice to-night. As an
amusement, they are admirable; as a commercial
operation, they are destruction."

"Confound the bones, I know they are,"  Mr.
Blunt, with some discomposure, acknowledged.
"If I had stuck to the coups you taught me
at Vanjohn, I should have made ten thousand
this season alone.  I never get that infernal
box in my hand without coming to grief in some
way or other.  And yet what money I have
won!"

"And what money lost!"

"Your answer is unanswerable. Yes; I will
promise you.  I will keep my head cool, and
won't touch ivory to-night."

"You are going to Crockford's?"

"Must go there, you know. Shan't stop an
hour. The only way of luring my pigeon out."

"And then?"

"To the umbrella-shop, of course. The worthy
Count Cubford will expect his commission on
the transaction, for permission to play Vanjohn
in his sanctum.  Everybody wants his
commission now-a-days.  I wonder Langhorne, of
the Guards, doesn't ask for fifteen per cent for
having introduced me to Debonnair."

"You will be able to afford it if you only
follow the instructions I gave you. You––I
mean monsieur,—must keep his head very cool,
and, as much as possible, his eyes fixed on his
opponent.  Monsieur must never lose his temper,
and must never grow tired.  Then, if he takes
care, and Debonnair is gris enough, he will
win his five thousand and more before
morning.'

"I believe I shall.  Five thousand pounds are
more than five thousand louis, most unsophisticated
foreigner. Where are we? Oh, Charing-cross.
We'll get rid of this ramshackle old tub
here. I shall go to the club, have a warm bath,
and then–––"

"To St. James's-street?"

"No. Gamridge's. After that, the business of
the evening will commence. The night is young
yet. It isn't a quarter-past twelve."