"Who are your friends, Hugo?" asked Pat.
"Thos. G...."
"Yes, I know. But who are they?"
"Well, there," said Hugo, "you rather have me. I sat next to Thos. at the fight, and I rather took to the fellow. He seemed to me a man full of noble qualities, including a looney idea that Eustace Rodd was some good as a boxer. He actually offered to give me three to one, and I cleaned up substantially at the end of the seventh round. After that, I naturally couldn't very well get out of giving the man supper. And as he had promised to take his daughter out to-night, I said bring her along. You don't mind?"
"Of course not. Though it would have been cosier, just we three."
"Quite true. But never forget that, if it had not been for this Thos., you would not be getting the jolly good supper which I have now ample funds to supply. You may look on Thos. as practically the Founder of the Feast." He cast a wary eye at his cousin, who was leaning back in his chair with the abstracted look of one in deep thought. "Has old John said anything to you yet?"
"John? What do you mean? What about?"
"Oh, things in general. Come and dance this. I want to have a very earnest word with you, young Pat. Big things are in the wind."
"You're very mysterious."
"Ah!" said Hugo.