Lincoln's Inn will always find me and receive my most earnest
attention." So saying, he rose, bowed, and having shaken my hand,
left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Peter," exclaimed the baronet, striding up and down, "Peter, you
are a fool, sir, a hot-headed, self-sufficient, pragmatical young
fool, sir, curse me!"

"I am sorry you should think so," I answered.

"And," he continued, regarding me with a defiant eye, "I shall
expect you to draw upon me for any sum that--that you may require
for the present--friendship's sake--boyhood and--and all that
sort of thing, and--er--oh, damme, you understand, Peter?"

"Sir Richard," said I, grasping his unwilling hand, "I--I thank
you from the bottom of my heart."

"Pooh, Peter, dammit!" said he, snatching his hand away and
thrusting it hurriedly into his pocket, out of farther reach.

"Thank you, sir," I reiterated; "be sure that should I fall ill or
any unforeseen calamity happen to me, I will most gladly, most
gratefully accept your generous aid in the spirit in which it is
offered, but--"

"But?" exclaimed Sir Richard.

"Until then--"