“I heard you,” cried Davis, as soon as the other entered,--“I heard you! and if I hadn't heard you with my own ears, I 'd not have believed it! Have n't I warned you, not once but fifty times, against that confounded peaching tongue of yours? Have n't I told you that if every act of your life was as pure and honest as you know it is not, your own stupid talk would make an indictment against you? You meet a fellow on the deck of a steamer--” “Stop there!” cried Beecher, whose temper was sorely tried by this attack. “The gentleman I talked with is an old acquaintance; he knows me,--ay, and what's more, he knows _you!_” “Many a man knows _me_, and does not feel himself much the better for his knowledge!” said Davis, boldly. “Well, I believe our friend here would n't say he was the exception to that rule,” said Beecher, with an ironical laugh. “Who is he?--what's his name?” “His name is Conway; he was a lieutenant in the 12th Lancers, but you will remember him better as the owner of Sir Aubrey.” “I remember him perfectly,” replied Davis, with all his own composure,--“I remember him perfectly,--a tall, good-looking fellow, with short moustaches. He was--except yourself--the greatest flat I ever met in the betting-ring; and that's a strong word, Mr. Annesley Beecher,--ain't it?” “I suspect you 'd scarcely like to call him a flat to-day, at least, to his face,” said Beecher, angrily. A look of mingled insolence and contempt was all the answer Davis gave this speech; and then half filling a tumbler with brandy, he drank it off, and said slowly,-- “What _I_ would dare to do, _you_ certainly would never suspect,--that much I 'm well aware of. What _you_ would dare is easily guessed at.” “I don't clearly understand you,” said Beecher, timidly. “_You_ 'd dare to draw me into a quarrel on the chance of seeing me 'bowled over,'” said Davis, with a bitter laugh. “_You_ 'd dare to see me stand opposite another man's pistol, and pray heartily at the same time that his hand might n't shake, nor his wrist falter; but I've got good business habits about me, Master Beecher. If you open that writing-desk, you 'll own few men's papers are in better order, or more neatly kept; and there is no satisfaction I could have to offer any one would n't give me ample time to deposit in the hands of justice seven forged acceptances by the Honorable Annesley Beecher, and the power of attorney counterfeited by the same accomplished gentleman's hand.” Beecher put out his hand to catch the decanter of brandy; but Davis gently removed the bottle, and said, “No, no; that's only Dutch courage, man; nerve yourself up, and learn to stand straight and manfully, and when you say, 'Not guilty,' do it with a bold look at the jury box.'” Beecher dropped into his seat, and buried his head between his hands.