"All about this, sir," replied The Chobb. "I am a gentleman, and I was in hopes any tenant of mine would be a gentleman also; but when you descend to such conduct as, in presence of these parties, you did last night--there is no excuse for it--even the state of intoxication you were in is no excuse--no excuse for it at all." "No excuse for it at all!" repeated the general, looking stately and solemn, as before. "Perhaps the gentleman did it for a joke, and will make it good," suggested the benevolent lawyer. "Oh, that's a different matter!" said The Chobb, slightly relaxing; "and if the gentleman withdraws it, and replaces the sum correctly, I am the last man in the world to find fault with a harmless pleasantry." "As I don't know what you mean,"--Frank began. "Oh, let me explain it!" interposed the general. "You offered last night to pay my step-son, Colonel Chobb, a month's rent of your _cottage orne_ in advance. He agreed to accept it, and the ten-pound note with which you discharged the amount turns out to be a flash note on the Bank of Fashion. These are the simple facts. I regret to state that appearances are against you." "We do not know you, you will observe," said the lawyer. "And my brother, Colonel Chobb, is always a great deal too careless in money matters. He should not have let you the cottage without a reference." "You also raised a slight suspicion by your attempt at a wrangle on the guinea stakes," added the medical man. "I am bound to say," observed the general, "that it would have an awkward appearance in a court of justice." "But"-- "Oh, you need not deny it!" said The Chobb. "I hate roundabout stories. I am a gentleman. Was it a joke or not? Will you pay me a good ten-pound note or not?" "Where is this note?" "It is in the hands of my children's governess. I have lodged it with her for security, and gain her evidence if, unfortunately, the business goes further." "Gentlemen," said Frank, "before I answer you, I must insist on seeing the lady, and the note exactly in the state it now is." "Certainly! nothing can be fairer," said the general. "I will conduct you to the school-room at once." "I should like, if you please, to be paid for these documents first," said the lawyer. "The agreement stamp is very high." "And, as short accounts make long friendships," said the medical man, "I should like to receive my fee for attendance." "What attendance, sir?" said Frank, whom even the approaching interview with Alice could scarcely keep cool. "I visited you professionally at the inn yesterday, sir, and sat by your side till nearly twelve o'clock. Time with a medical man is money; and I think my demand moderate at five guineas." "Very moderate, indeed!" said The Chobb. "Sir Henry Halford would have charged you five times the sum for half the time." "But I never called this skilful physician in," said Frank, amazed in spite of himself.