I don't want to quarrel, and I don't mean to quarrel, Mr Rarthur Litton. I made a bargain with you, and I mean to keep you to it. You boasted to me of your high connections and your _entree_ into good society, and undertook to introduce me into some of the best families, so that I might take the position that my wealth enables me to hold. Now, then, please, have I paid up like a man? "Yes; you have," was the sulky response. "And you've taken jolly good care to draw more than was your due. Now, what have you done?" "Well, I taught you to dress like something different to a cad." "Humph! You did knock off my studs and rings and things." "And I've dined with you till I've got you to be fit to eat your meals in a Christianlike manner." "Look here, Mr Rarthur, sir," said Elbraham hotly, "is that meant as a sneer?" "No; of course not." "Oh!" "Then I wanted time to get these things in proper course. Well, come now, I did get you the invitation to Lady Littletown's." "Yes; to a beggarly dinner with an old woman at Hampton. Are you going to dine there?" "I? No! I come in afterwards at the `at home'." "Ah! I wanted to talk to you about that affair to-night. You promised without my consent." "Of course I did. It was a great chance." "A great chance?" "Of course. You don't know how big a thing it is to be." "Bah! stuff! rubbish! A feed given to all the old pensioned tabbies at Hampton Court." "Don't you make any mistake, sir. There'll be some big people there." "Big! Why, I could buy up dozens of them." "Their incomes, perhaps, Mr Elbraham, but not their position and their _entree_ to good society. Sir, you could not even buy mine." "But I could your bills," said the other, with a grin. "And hold them over me, you wretched little cad!" said the young man to himself. Then aloud: "I can assure you, Mr Elbraham, that this dinner will give you the step you wanted. Lady Littletown stands very high in society. The Duchess of Redesby will be there, and Lord Henry Moorpark." "What! old Apricot--old yellow and ripe!" said Elbraham with a chuckle. "Lord Henry Moorpark is a thorough specimen of an English nobleman, Mr Elbraham," said the secretary stiffly; "and I consider that if the only thing I had done was to gain you an introduction to him, I should have earned all the wages, as you call them, that you have condescended to pay me." "Yes, of course--yes, to be sure. There, there, don't be so hot and peppery, Litton. I'm a bit put out this morning. By the way, would you have the brougham and pair or one horse?" "Pair, decidedly," said the young man. "You'll not go with me?" "No; I come afterwards. You shall bring me back if you will." "Yes; of course. I'll put some cigars in the pocket. Would you wear the diamond studs?" "_No_. Not a ring, even. Go in black, and hardly speak a word. Do nothing but look the millionaire. The simpler you dress, my dear sir, the richer they will think you."