"Well, I suppose you met some pretty low-down swabs at old Perry's club," he began "What did you do there?"
"I played bridge," I said, "and lost—I mean won—two hundred and thirty-four pounds. I have accepted a U. O. Me for it. What do you do if you haven't got the money?"
"Why, wait till you get landed with some, and swop it off. You're jolly lucky! It's a dangerous game. Why, you might have had to receive it! Who did you play with?"
"Lord Charles Delagrange was my partner. Do you know him?"
His face changed. "He's my uncle, I'm sorry to say," he said stiffly. "But if I were to meet him in the street I should look the other way. He's a swab of the first water."
"He seems cheerful enough," I said, "and enjoys his life thoroughly, to all appearances."
"I dare say he does. But there must be times when he asks himself whether the company he keeps is worth the price he pays for it. He can't get any other. I shouldn't think there's a servants' hall in the country that would be open to him now."
"I suppose the best society in the place is to be found in the servants' hall."
"Of course it is—the best female society. You must come and dine with us one night here. We'll give you a very poor dinner."
"Thank you. You are very kind."