I obeyed him, and to my surprise took out a bundle of bank-notes; I counted up their value, and they amounted to £3500.
"You have been fortunate, indeed."
"Yes," replied the Major; "knowing that in a short time I shall be certain of cash, one way or the other, I had resolved to try my luck with the £500. I went to the hazard table, and threw in seventeen times—hedged upon the deuce ace, and threw out with it—voila. They won't catch me there again in a hurry—luck like that only comes once in a man's life; but, Japhet, there is a little drawback to all this. I shall require your kind attendance in two or three hours."
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Merely an affair of honour. I was insulted by a vagabond, and we meet at six o'clock."
"A vagabond—but surely, Carbonnell, you will not condescend—"
"My dear fellow, although as great a vagabond as there is on the face of the earth, yet he is a peer of the realm, and his title warrants the meeting—but, after all, what is it?"
"I trust it will be nothing, Carbonnell, but still it may prove otherwise."
"Granted; and what then, my dear Newland? we all owe Heaven a death, and if I am floored, why then I shall no longer be anxious about title or fortune."
"It's a bad way of settling a dispute," replied I, gravely.