there, but the Major refused. I didn't hear him. I wasn't going to ask
him. I mayn't be a match for three women, but man to man, eh, Tom?
You'd back me there? So Harry said the Major 'd make Caroline miserable,
if his wishes were disrespected. By George, I wish I'd know, then.
Don't you think it odd, Tom, now? There's a Duke of Belfield the fellow
had hooked into his Company; and--through Evan I heard--the Duke had his
name struck off. After that, the Major swore at the Duke once or twice,
and said Caroline wasn't to go out with him. Suddenly, he insists that
she shall go. Days the poor thing kept crying! One day, he makes her
go. She hasn't the spirit of my Harry or the Countess. By good luck,
Van, who was hunting ferns for some friends of his, met them on Sunday in
Richmond Park, and Van took her away from the Duke. But, Tom, think of
Van seeing a fellow watching her wherever she went, and hearing the
Duke's coachman tell that fellow he had orders to drive his master and a
lady hard on to the sea that night. I don't believe it--it wasn't
Caroline! But what do you think of our finding out that beast of a spy
to be in the Major's pay? We did. Van put a constable on his track; we
found him out, and he confessed it. A fact, Tom! That decided me. If
it was only to get rid of a brute, I determined I 'd do it, and I did.
Strike came to me to get my name for a bill that night. 'Gad, he looked
blanker than his bill when he heard of us two bankrupt. I showed him one
or two documents I'd got ready. Says he: "Never mind; it'll only be a
couple of hundred more in the schedule." Stop, Tom! he's got some of
our blood. I don't think he meant it. He is hard pushed. Well, I gave
him a twentier, and he was off the next night. You 'll soon see all
about the Company in the papers.'

At the conclusion of Andrew's recital, Old Tom thrummed and looked on the
floor under a heavy frown. His mouth worked dubiously, and, from moment
to moment, he plucked at his waistcoat and pulled it down, throwing back