"Beg pardon, beg pardon, but strange-looking dog here last evening—asked after you—said you were old friend of his—trotted off in your direction —hope all was right, Master?—augh!"
"All right!" repeated Aram, fixing his eyes on the Corporal, who had concluded his speech with a significant wink, and pausing a full moment before he continued, then as if satisfied with his survey, he added:
"Ay, ay, I know whom you mean; he had known me some years ago. So you saw him! What said he to you of me?"
"Augh! little enough, Master Aram, he seemed to think only of satisfying his own appetite; said he'd been a soldier."
"A soldier, humph!"
"Never told me the regiment, though,—shy—did he ever desert, pray, your honour?"
"I don't know;" answered Aram, turning away. "I know little, very little, about him!" He was going away, but stopped to add: "The man called on me last night for assistance; the lateness of the hour a little alarmed me. I gave him what I could afford, and he has now proceeded on his journey."
"Oh, then, he won't take up his quarters hereabouts, your honour?" said the Corporal, inquiringly.
"No, no; good evening."
"What! this singular stranger, who so frightened my poor girls, is really known to you;" said Lester, in surprise: "pray is he as formidable as he seemed to them?"