a man of good family."

"I don't like his looks at all," Harry said shortly. "Look what a
cringing air he puts on as he speaks to madame Ia marquise. And yet
I fancy he could be insolent when he likes. He may be good-looking,
but it is not a style I admire, with his thick lips and his
half-closed eyes. If I met him at home I should say the fellow was
something between a butcher and a Jew pedlar."

"Well done, monsieur the aristocrat!" Ernest said laughing. "This
is your English equality! Here is a poor fellow who is allowed to
take a place our of his station, thanks to the circumstances of
the time, and you run him down mercilessly!"

"I don't run him down because he is not a gentleman," Harry said.
"I run him down because I don't like his face; and if he were the
son of a duke instead of the son of a mayor I should dislike it
just as much. You take my word for it, Ernest, that's a bad fellow."

"Poor Monsieur Lebat!" Ernest laughed. "I daresay he is a very
decent fellow in his way.

"I am sure he is not, Ernest; he has a cruel bad look. I would not
have been that fellow's fag at school for any money.

"Well, it's fortunate, Harry, that you are not likely to see much
of him, else I should expect to see you flying at his neck and
strangling him as you did the hound."

Harry joined in the laugh.