I laughed and rang for beer, which happened to be the only beverage at that moment subject to my orders. Old Joanna brought in bottles and glasses on a tray, and as she set the tray down, I observed that there was a note upon it, in a rather soiled envelope, though ornamented with a handsome monogram. I took no further notice of it at the time, my mind being occupied with other thoughts. The hints which Floyd had dropped made me uneasy. I could not doubt that he had by some means either found out the whole truth about my transfer of my grandfather's bequest, or at least learned enough of the circumstances to enable him to ask me very pertinent questions. And inasmuch as I possessed nothing of his command of countenance and readiness of wit and self-possession, it was plain that I was destined to let the cat out of the bag whenever he chose to make me do so. Be that as it might, I was resolved to allow of no readjustment of the property; and as I had reason to believe that my tenacity of purpose was fully equal to his, whatever my inferiority otherwise, I consoled myself as well as the case allowed. Meanwhile Floyd had produced a gigantic cigar-case, which seemed to be the only thing in the way of luggage that he had brought with him, and held it towards me. The cigar which I laid hold of proved to be upwards of six inches in length and thick in proportion, while the aroma which proceeded from it, even before it was lighted, was such as would have made the least enthusiastic smoker devoutly bless his stars. 'They're wretched little things, I know,' murmured Floyd, as he stuck one of these brobdingnags into the corner of his mouth, and scratched a match. 'As a general thing, of course, I only smoke them before breakfast, or between courses at dinner. My regular weeds--the big ones--are in my trunk at the "Saxe." Raised 'em myself. Well, now go ahead, Tom, old man; let's see what sort of an account you can give of your adventures since the old Cambridge days--eh?' Now my rejoicing at Floyd's unexpected arrival had been twofold: first, I was glad to see him for his own sake; secondly, because of the sympathy and advice which no man was better qualified than he to give me in my present love difficulty. In a word, I regarded him as sent by Providence especially to be made a confidant of. His proposal that I should give an account of myself since our last meeting afforded me a good opening whereby to lead comfortably up to the intended revelation. Such topics, when one is really serious and in earnest, require to be softly approached as well as delicately handled; and it seemed to me, now that I was actually face to face with my confession, that I could not begin too far back or work my way along too circumspectly.