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〃She is seriously ill； poor soul；〃 he said。 〃I am sorry I spoke
so petulantly and s o unfairly when we met at the club。 The near
prospect of death has developed qualities in her nature which I
ought to have seen before this。 No matter how it may be delayed；
I will patiently wait her time for the crossing to England。〃
So long as he believed himself to be in the right； he was； as to
his actions and opinions； one of the most obstinate men I ever
met with。 But once let him be convinced that he was wrong； and he
rushed into the other extremebecame needlessly distrustful of
himself； and needlessly eager in seizing his opportunity of
making atonement。 In this latter mood he was capable （with the
best intentions） of committing acts of the most childish
imprudence。 With some misgivings； I asked how he had amused
himself in my absence。
〃I waited for you；〃 he said； 〃till I lost all patience； and went
out for a walk。 First； I thought of going to the beach； but the
smell of the harbor drove me back into the town； and there； oddly
enough； I met with a man； a certain Captain Peterkin； who had
been a friend of mine at college。〃
〃A visitor to Boulogne？〃 I inquired。
〃Not exactly。〃
〃A resident？〃
〃Yes。 The fact is； I lost sight of Peterkin when I left
Oxfordand since that time he seems to have drifted into
difficulties。 We had a long talk。 He is living here； he tells me；
until his affairs are settled。〃
I needed no further enlightenmentCaptain Peterkin stood as
plainly revealed to me as if I had known him for years。 〃Isn't it
a little imprudent；〃 I said； 〃to renew your acquaintance with a
man of that sort？ Couldn't you have passed him； with a bow？〃
Bolnayne smiled uneasily。 〃I daresay you're right；〃 he answered。
〃But； remember； I had left my aunt； feeling ashamed of the unjust
way in which I had thought and spoken of her。 How did I know that
I mightn't be wronging an old friend next； if I kept Peterkin at
a distance？ His present position may be as much his misfortune；
poor fellow； as his fault。 I was half inclined to pass him； as
you saybut I distrusted my own judgment。 He held out his hand；
and he was so glad to see me。 It can't be helped now。 I shall be
anxious to hear your opinion of him。〃
〃Are we going to dine with Captain Peterkin？〃
〃Yes。 I happened to mention that wretched dinner yesterday at our
hotel。 He said； 'Come to my boarding…house。 Out of Paris； there
isn't such a table d'hote in France。' I tried to get off itnot
caring； as you know； to go among strangersI said I had a friend
with me。 He invited you most cordially to accompany me。 More
excuses on my part only led to a painful result。 I hurt
Peterkin's feelings。 'I'm down in the world；' he said； 'and I'm
not fit company for you and your friends。 I beg your pardon for
taking the liberty of inviting you！' He turned away with the
tears in his eyes。 What could I do？〃
I thought to myself； 〃You could have lent him five pounds； and
got rid of his invitation without the slightest difficulty。〃 If I
had returned in reasonable time to go out with Romayne； we might
not have met the captainor； if we had met him； my presence
would have prevented the confidential talk and the invitation
that followed。 I felt I was to blameand yet； how could I help
it？ It was useless to remonstrate： the mischief was done。
We left the Old Town on our right hand； and drove on； past a
little colony of suburban villas； to a house standing by itself；
surrounded by a stone wall。 As we crossed the front garden on our
way to the door； I noticed against the side of the house two
kennels； inhabited by two large watch…dogs。 Was the proprietor
afraid of thieves？
III。
THE moment we were introduced to the drawing…room； my suspicions
of the company we were likely to meet with were fully confirmed。
〃Cards； billiards； and betting〃there was the inscription
legibly written on the manner and appearance of Captain Peterkin。
The bright…eyed yellow old lady who kept the boarding…house would
have been worth five thousand pounds in jewelry alone； if the
ornaments which profusely covered her had been genuine precious
stones。 The younger ladies present had their cheeks as highly
rouged and their eyelids as elaborately penciled in black as if
they were going on the stage； instead of going to dinner。 We
found these fair creatures drinking Madeira as a whet to their
appetites。 Among the men； there were two who struck me as the
most finished and complete blackguards whom I had ever met with
in all my experience； at home and abroad。 One； with a brown face
and a broken nose； was presented to us by the title of
〃Commander；〃 and was described as a person of great wealth and
distinction in Peru； traveling for amusement。 The other wore a
military uniform and decorations； and was spoken of as 〃the
General。〃 A bold bullying manner； a fat sodden face； little
leering eyes； and greasy…looking hands； made this man so
repellent to me that I privately longed to kick him。 Romayne had
evidently been announced； before our arrival； as a landed
gentleman with a large income。 Men and women vied in servile
attentions to him。 When we went into the dining…room； the
fascinating creature who sat next to him held her fan before her
face； and so made a private interview of it between the rich
Englishman and herself。 With regard to the dinner； I shall only
report that it justified Captain Peterkin's boast； in some degree
at least。 The wine was good； and the conversation became gay to
the verge of indelicacy。 Usually the most temperate of men；
Romayne was tempted by his neighbors into drinking freely。 I was
unfortunately seated at the opposite extremity of the table； and
I had no opportunity of warning him。
The dinner reached its conclusion； and we all returned together；
on the foreign plan； to coffee and cigars in the drawing…room。
The women smoked； and drank liqueurs as well as coffee； with the
men。 One of them went to the piano； and a little impromptu ball
followed； the ladies dancing with their cigarettes in their
mouths。 Keeping my eyes and ears on the alert； I saw an
innocent…looking table； with a surface of rosewood； suddenly
develop a substance of green cloth。 At the same time； a neat
little roulette…table made its appearance from a hiding…place in
a sofa。 Passing near the venerable landlady； I heard her ask the
servant； in a whisper； 〃if the dogs were loose？〃 After what I had
observed； I could only conclude that the dogs were used as a
patrol； to give the alarm in case of a descent of the police。 It
was plainly high time to thank Captain Peterkin for his
hospitality； and to take our leave。
〃We have had enough of this；〃 I whispered to Romayne in English。
〃Let us go。〃
In these days it is a delusion to suppose that you can speak
confidentially in the English language； when French people are
within hearing。 One of the ladies asked Romayne； tenderly； if he
was tired of her already。 Another reminded him that it was
raining heavily （as we could all hear）； and suggested waiting
until it cleared up。 The hideous General waved his greasy hand in
the direction of the card table； and said； 〃The game is waiting
for us。〃
Romayne was excited； but not stupefied； by the wine he had drunk。
He answered； discreetly enough； 〃I must beg you to excuse me； I
am a poor card player。〃
The General suddenly looked grave。 〃You are speaking； sir； under
a strange misapprehension；〃 he said。 〃Our game is
lansquenetessentially a game of chance。 With luck； the poorest
player is a match for the whole table。〃
Romayne persisted in his refusal。 As a matter of course； I
supported him； with all needful care to avoid giving offense。 The
General took offense； nevertheless。 He crossed his arms on his
breast； and looked at us fiercely。
〃Does this mean； gentlemen； that you distrust the company？〃 he
asked。
The broken…nosed Commander； hearing the question； immediately
joined us； in the interests of peacebearing with him the
elements of persuasion； under the form of a lady on his arm。
The lady stepped briskly forward； and tapped the General on the
shoulder with her fan。 〃I am one of the company；〃 she said； 〃and
I am sure Mr。 Romayne doesn't distrust _me_。〃 She turne