gratify Dacres. He had sacrificed himself over and over upon the altar
of friendship, and had allowed himself to be bored to death because
Dacres so wished it. The whole number of his calls was in reality only
about five or six; but that number, to one of his taste and
temperament, seemed positively enormous, and represented an immense
amount of human suffering.

One day, upon reaching his quarters, after one of these calls, he
found Dacres there, making himself, as usual, very much at home.

"Well, my dear fellow," said Hawbury, cheerfully, "how waves the flag
now? Are you hauling it down, or are you standing to your guns? Toss
over the cigars, and give an account of yourself."

"Do you know any thing about law, Hawbury?" was Dacres's answer.

"Law?"

"Yes."

"No, not much. But what in the world makes you ask such a question as
that? Law! No--not I."

"Well, there's a point that I should like to ask somebody about."

"Why not get a lawyer?"

"An Italian lawyer's no use."

"Well, English lawyers are to be found. I dare say there are twenty