"Friends! I dessay. Move on," answered X.
"If you touch me, I'll pitch into you, I will," roared the other. "I tell you I know 'em all—that's Sir Francis Clavering, Baronet, M.P.—I know him, and he knows me—and that's Strong, and that's the young chap that made the row at the ball. I say, Strong, Strong!"
"It's that d—— Altamont," cried Sir Francis within, with a start and a guilty look; and Strong also, with a look of annoyance, got up from the table, and ran out to the intruder.
A gentleman in a white waistcoat, running out from a dining-room bare-headed, a policeman, and an individual decently attired, engaged in almost fistycuffs on the pavement, were enough to make a crowd, even in that quiet neighborhood, at half-past eight o'clock in the evening, and a small mob began to assemble before Sir Francis Clavering's door. "For God's sake, come in," Strong said, seizing his acquaintance's arm. "Send for a cab, James, if you please," he added, in an under voice to that domestic; and carrying the excited gentleman out of the street, the outer door was closed upon him, and the small crowd began to move away.
Mr. Strong had intended to convey the stranger into Sir Francis's private sitting-room, where the hats of the male guests were awaiting them, and having there soothed his friend by bland conversation, to have carried him off as soon as the cab arrived; but the new comer was in a great state of wrath at the indignity which had been put upon him, and when Strong would have led him into the second door, said, in a tipsy voice, "That ain't the door: that's the dining-room door, where the drink's going on: and I'll go and have some, by Jove; I'll go and have some." At this audacity the butler stood aghast in the hall, and placed himself before the door: but it opened behind him, and the master of the house made his appearance, with anxious looks.
"I will have some—by —— I will," the intruder was roaring out, as Sir Francis came forward. "Hullo! Clavering, I say I'm come to have some wine with you; hay! old boy—hay! old corkscrew? Get us a bottle of the yellow seal, you old thief: the very best—a hundred rupees a dozen, and no mistake."
The host reflected a moment over his company. There is only Welbore, Pendennis, and those two lads, he thought; and with a forced laugh and a piteous look, he said, "Well, Altamont, come in. I am very glad to see you, I'm sure."
Colonel Altamont, for the intelligent reader has doubtless long ere this discovered in the stranger His Excellency the Embassador of the Nawaub of Lucknow, reeled into the dining-room, with a triumphant look toward Jeames, the footman, which seemed to say, "There, sir, what do you think of that? Now, am I a gentleman or no?" and sank down into the first vacant chair. Sir Francis Clavering timidly stammered out the colonel's name to his guest Mr. Welbore Welbore, and his excellency began drinking wine forthwith, and gazing round upon the company, now with the most wonderful frowns, and anon with the blandest smiles, and hiccupped remarks encomiastic of the drink which he was imbibing.
"Very singular man. Has resided long in a native court in India," Strong said, with great gravity, the chevalier's presence of mind never deserting him; "in those Indian courts they get very singular habits."
"Very," said Major Pendennis, dryly, and wondering what in goodness' name was the company into which he had got.