"Dad!"
"You young rascal!" exclaimed Harkaway senior, "where have you been all night?"
"Why—I—I arranged to go out early in the morning for a drive with this gentleman and Harry, so I took a room here at this hotel so as to be close to the rendezvous."
"That is the truth, but not all the truth. Sir, may I ask you the object of your very early excursion with my son?"
"Well, sir, the fact is, this young gentleman became involved last night in a little dispute which necessitated an exchange of pistol shots, and your son, I must say, behaved in a most gallant manner."
"Not touched, Jack?"
"No, dad."
"Did you shoot t'other fellow?"
"No, father; I only shoot game—human or brute. I leave gamekeepers and hangmen to exterminate vermin."
"Well, now, cut along home. Your mother is in no end of a funk about you."