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talking about the Colonel just before he came in。
〃It is come just in the nick of time；〃 said Smith。 〃I
suppose Crawley had not a shilling in the world。〃
〃It's a wind that blows everybody good；〃 Mr。 Brown
said。 〃He can't go away without paying me a pony he
owes me。〃
〃What's the salary？〃 asked Smith。
〃Two or three thousand；〃 answered the other。 〃But
the climate's so infernal； they don't enjoy it long。
Liverseege died after eighteen months of it； and the
man before went off in six weeks； I hear。〃
〃Some people say his brother is a very clever man。 I
always found him a d bore；〃 Smith ejaculated。 〃He
must have good interest； though。 He must have got the
Colonel the place。〃
〃He！〃 said Brown。 with a sneer。 〃Pooh。 It was Lord
Steyne got it。
〃How do you mean？〃
〃A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband；〃
answered the other enigmatically； and went to read his
papers。
Rawdon； for his part； read in the Royalist the following
astonishing paragraph：
GOVERNORSHIP OF COVENTRY ISLAND。H。M。S。
Yellowjack； Commander Jaunders； has brought letters and
papers from Coventry Island。 H。 E。 Sir Thomas
Liverseege had fallen a victim to the prevailing fever at
Swampton。 His loss is deeply felt in the flourishing
colony。 We hear that the Governorship has been offered to
Colonel Rawdon Crawley； C。B。； a distinguished Waterloo
officer。 We need not only men of acknowledged
bravery； but men of administrative talents to superintend
the affairs of our colonies； and we have no doubt
that the gentleman selected by the Colonial Office to
fill the lamented vacancy which has occurred at
Coventry Island is admirably calculated for the post which
he is about to occupy。〃
〃Coventry Island！ Where was it？ Who had appointed
him to the government？ You must take me out as your
secretary； old boy；〃 Captain Macmurdo said laughing；
and as Crawley and his friend sat wondering and
perplexed over the announcement； the Club waiter brought
in to the Colonel a card on which the name of Mr。
Wenham was engraved； who begged to see Colonel
Crawley。
The Colonel and his aide…de…camp went out to meet
the gentleman； rightly conjecturing that he was an
emissary of Lord Steyne。 〃How d'ye do； Crawley？ I am
glad to see you；〃 said Mr。 Wenham with a bland smile；
and grasping Crawley's hand with great cordiality。
〃You come； I suppose； from 〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Mr。 Wenham。
〃Then this is my friend Captain Macmurdo； of the Life
Guards Green。〃
〃Delighted to know Captain Macmurdo； I'm sure；〃 Mr。
Wenham said and tendered another smile and shake of
the hand to the second； as he had done to the principal。
Mac put out one finger； armed with a buckskin glove；
and made a very frigid bow to Mr。 Wenham over his
tight cravat。 He was； perhaps； discontented at being put
in communication with a pekin； and thought that Lord
Steyne should have sent him a Colonel at the very least。
〃As Macmurdo acts for me； and knows what I mean；〃
Crawley said； 〃I had better retire and leave you together。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Macmurdo。
〃By no means； my dear Colonel；〃 Mr。 Wenham said；
〃the interview which I had the honour of requesting was
with you personally； though the company of Captain
Macmurdo cannot fail to be also most pleasing。 In fact；
Captain； I hope that our conversation will lead to none
but the most agreeable results； very different from those
which my friend Colonel Crawley appears to anticipate。〃
〃Humph！〃 said Captain Macmurdo。 Be hanged to these
civilians； he thought to himself； they are always for
arranging and speechifying。 Mr。 Wenham took a chair
which was not offered to himtook a paper from his
pocket； and resumed
〃You have seen this gratifying announcement in the
papers this morning； Colonel？ Government has secured
a most valuable servant； and you； if you accept office； as
I presume you will； an excellent appointment。 Three
thousand a year； delightful climate； excellent government…
house； all your own way in the Colony； and a certain
promotion。 I congratulate you with all my heart。 I
presume you know； gentlemen； to whom my friend is
indebted for this piece of patronage？〃
〃Hanged if I know；〃 the Captain said； his principal
turned very red。
〃To one of the most generous and kindest men in the
world； as he is one of the greatestto my excellent
friend； the Marquis of Steyne。〃
〃I'll see him d before I take his place；〃 growled
out Rawdon。
〃You are irritated against my noble friend；〃 Mr。
Wenham calmly resumed； 〃and now； in the name of
common sense and justice； tell me why？〃
〃WHY？〃 cried Rawdon in surprise。
〃Why？ Dammy！〃 said the Captain； ringing his stick
on the ground。
〃Dammy； indeed；〃 said Mr。 Wenham with the most
agreeable smile； 〃still； look at the matter as a man of
the worldas an honest manand see if you have not
been in the wrong。 You come home from a journey； and
findwhat？my Lord Steyne supping at your house in
Curzon Street with Mrs。 Crawley。 Is the circumstance
strange or novel？ Has he not been a hundred times
before in the same position？ Upon my honour and word
as a gentleman〃Mr。 Wenham here put his hand on
his waistcoat with a parliamentary air〃I declare I think
that your suspicions are monstrous and utterly
unfounded； and that they injure an honourable gentleman
who has proved his good…will towards you by a thousand
benefactionsand a most spotless and innocent lady。〃
〃You don't mean to say thatthat Crawley's
mistaken？〃 said Mr。 Macmurdo。
〃I believe that Mrs。 Crawley is as innocent as my
wife； Mrs。 Wenham；〃 Mr。 Wenham said with great
energy。 〃I believe that； misled by an infernal jealousy；
my friend here strikes a blow against not only an infirm
and old man of high station； his constant friend and
benefactor； but against his wife； his own dearest honour；
his son's future reputation； and his own prospects in
life。〃
〃I will tell you what happened；〃 Mr。 Wenham
continued with great solemnity； 〃I was sent for this
morning by my Lord Steyne； and found him in a pitiable state；
as； I need hardly inform Colonel Crawley； any man of
age and infirmity would be after a personal conflict with
a man of your strength。 I say to your face； it was a
cruel advantage you took of that strength； Colonel
Crawley。 It was not only the body of my noble and
excellent friend which was woundedhis heart； sir； was
bleeding。 A man whom he had loaded with benefits and
regarded with affection had subjected him to the foulest
indignity。 What was this very appointment； which appears
in the journals of to…day； but a proof of his kindness to
you？ When I saw his Lordship this morning I found him
in a state pitiable indeed to see； and as anxious as you
are to revenge the outrage committed upon him； by
blood。 You know he has given his proofs； I presume；
Colonel Crawley？〃
〃He has plenty of pluck；〃 said the Colonel。 〃Nobody
ever said he hadn't。〃
〃His first order to me was to write a letter of
challenge； and to carry it to Colonel Crawley。 One or
other of us；〃 he said； 〃must not survive the outrage
of last night。〃
Crawley nodded。 〃You're coming to the point；
Wenham；〃 he said。
〃I tried my utmost to calm Lord Steyne。 Good God！
sir；〃 I said； 〃how I regret that Mrs。 Wenham and myself
ha