"I discover my Mortlake hovering about a great flame in the military world—a Captain St. Udo Brand, of the Coldstream Guards, who has great expectation of a wealthy grandmother dying and leaving him the sole heir.
"My Mortlake wheels nearer and nearer this mighty captain, learns all he can about his history and habits, and becomes an acquaintance of his. What he intends to do with him I cannot tell; for he cannot pigeon him as he pigeons weaker men. My faith, he dares not.
"Captain Brand treats the gambling Mortlake with that lofty insolence which great men show to little men; he is indifferent to him, he forgets his presence, he turns the back upon him at the mess-table when any of the softer officers bring him there.
"My Mortlake does not like it; he grows very black when the captain is not by, and he swears a great deal against him.
"I look on and laugh; it is a gay comedie for me. I clasp the hands and cry encore!
"Presently the great captain's grandmama's malady grows worse; messages continue to arrive, and he must go to Surrey.
"Monsieur Mortlake comes to me with his curious green eyes gleaming.
"'Come Calembours,' he says; 'we may as well take a run down to Surrey to see this wonderful castle.'
"'So be it!' I cry once more, and we go.
"We are living at a hotel in Regis when the sullen captain arrives; he is accosted to his surprise by Monsieur Mortlake, who is of course quite astonished to meet him there.