"'_Merci_, Monsieur Mortlake,' I return, 'Napoleon the brave thought Calembours worthy of the Legion of Honor; but perhaps your circle are right, and are exclusive of the nobility.' "We part good friends, though, for are we not necessary to each other? He goes his way and I go mine, but I set myself to know the reason why. "I discover my Mortlake hovering about a great flame in the military world--a Captain St. Udo Brand, of the Coldstream Guards, who has great expectation of a wealthy grandmother dying and leaving him the sole heir. "My Mortlake wheels nearer and nearer this mighty captain, learns all he can about his history and habits, and becomes an acquaintance of his. What he intends to do with him I cannot tell; for he cannot pigeon _him_ as he pigeons weaker men. My faith, he dares not. "Captain Brand treats the gambling Mortlake with that lofty insolence which great men show to little men; he is indifferent to him, he forgets his presence, he turns the back upon him at the mess-table when any of the softer officers bring him there. "My Mortlake does not like it; he grows very black when the captain is not by, and he swears a great deal against him. "I look on and laugh; it is a gay _comedie_ for me. I clasp the hands and cry _encore_! "Presently the great captain's grandmama's malady grows worse; messages continue to arrive, and he must go to Surrey. "Monsieur Mortlake comes to me with his curious green eyes gleaming. "'Come Calembours,' he says; 'we may as well take a run down to Surrey to see this wonderful castle.' "'So be it!' I cry once more, and we go. "We are living at a hotel in Regis when the sullen captain arrives; he is accosted to his surprise by Monsieur Mortlake, who is of course quite astonished to meet him there. "Captain Brand swears a good deal at the idea of going down to that 'infernal dull hole,' his grandmother's handsome castle, which he assures Mr. Mortlake is inhabited by old women and servants. "'A note will do for to-night, by Jove!' vows Captain Brand, 'and I'll send it over.' "Monsieur Mortlake protests that he has heard so much of the antiquity of Castle Brand that he would think it a boon if the captain would permit him to carry that note, if it is only for the chance of seeing such a castle. "'By all means you shall, if that will please you,' says the captain. "Mademoiselle, as these men stand together in the lobby, I looking down from the staircase upon them--for has not monsieur ordered me not to disgrace him by intruding upon the captain?--a very strange idea occurs to me; it strikes me very forcibly. I watch the men with amazement, with fear. As we ride away together in the moonlight, I say to my friend: "'Monsieur le Capitaine is a most handsome man.' "He only curses Monsieur le Capitaine. "I say again: "'_Mon ami_, do not execrate your own image.' "He turns in his saddle with a savage oath--he glares like the hungry wolf.