'Late for mess, old man,' said Fotheringhame. 'What is up, eh?'
'Wine!' said Acharn sharply, to a waiter, and then replied: 'Only that I am rather up a tree just now.'
'You are rather fond of climbing,' said Fotheringhame. 'Is it lofty?'
'Lofty as a Himalayan pine, by Jove! I say, Falconer, you were at the general's place, Eaglescraig—or what's its name?'
'Yes.'
'Was there a fellow named Hew Montgomerie there?'
'Yes.'
'Hew Caddish Montgomerie, as his pasteboard has it—he is well named! and from whom you won at cards?'
'No; but who utterly rooked me at cards!' said Falconer angrily, while he and Fotheringhame exchanged glances.
'Well, I met him at the United Service Club this afternoon, though he is not a member. We somehow got into play, and I have lost enough to make my governor pull a very long face when he comes to hear of it—a cool £500. He is a fellow whose shifty eyes and thin lips often smile, but never in unison?'