‘I wish she had. That would have given me a pull on her.’ ‘She might have served you with an action for breach of promise.’ ‘That would have been too ridiculous.’ ‘She was young. I don’t feel sure that she might not have had you up under the Act which makes the parent the guardian of the child till she is sixteen.’ ‘Oh no, she was older than that.’ ‘Perhaps she wants to excite you. She knows now that you are a single man, and she thinks it well to begin the renewal of her acquaintance with a little seasonable aversion.’ ‘The fact is, she not only treated me with aversion, but she cut me dead.’ ‘Shocking!’ said his friend. ‘Yes, it was. I was always fond of her, and I am mad to get hold of her again.’ ‘That ought not to be difficult to Sir Watkin Strahan.’ ‘Perhaps not. But there is a man in the case—a newspaper fellow—the fellow, in short, who had the impudence to come down to Sloville to contest the borough. I believe he lost me the seat. I believe the girl got him to do it out of revenge.’ ‘Then, I would be even with him.’ ‘So I will before I’ve done with him. You may be sure I’ll have my revenge,’ said the Baronet angrily. ‘Yes, I can trust you for that,’ said his friend. ‘You are a good fellow, Sir Watkin, but you neither forget nor forgive.’ ‘No, we don’t in our family, and we have found it answer our purpose very well.’ ‘But, come, liquor up. Never mind the women; leave them to themselves.’ ‘Ah, that is easier said than done. I suppose I must give up this sort of life. I must marry again, and reform, and settle down into a quiet life, look after my tenants, attend the parish church, do my duty as a magistrate and a breeder of fat cattle, as my fathers before me. They seem to have been all highly beloved and deeply regretted. That is, if I read aright the inscriptions on their monuments in Sloville Church.’ ‘They must have been if they were at all like their latest representative,’ said his friend sarcastically. ‘You be blowed!’ was the uncomplimentary reply. ‘I tell you what. I see the girl is acting to-night. I have nothing better to do—I’ll go and see her.’ ‘Shall I come with you?’ ‘No, I thank you; I’d rather go alone.’ ‘You had better take me with you. You’ll get into another scrape. You always do when I am not with you.’ ‘Thanks, but I think I am old enough to run alone. If I want your valuable aid I shall send for you.’ ‘Do—I shall be here all right. It amuses me more to have a quiet rubber than to be tearing all over London by night after anything in petticoats.’ ‘Ah, you are a philosopher.’ ‘I wish I could return the compliment.’ ‘By-the-by,’ said the Baronet, changing the subject, ‘did you ever hear of the curious predicament I am in?’ ‘What do you mean—the birth and disappearance of the baby?’