"'I won't interfere with the companion--she's free for me; I'll get out of England as fast as I can, and try my luck abroad.' "'Try the United States,' insinuates M. Mortlake. "'Good! and join the army,' says our captain, with a war-glance which sweeps the horizon and sees coming fame, 'and win glory, since I am stripped of my fortune.' "'Will you go, then?' pursues Monsieur Mortlake. "'I'll think of it,' says Captain Brand. "And he does think of it, and to such purpose that in an hour he has left Regis and is posting back to London. "Monsieur Mortlake comes to me and tells me all this. "'Calembours, I have a job for you,' says my friend. His language is never refined. _Ouf!_ how can it be? But I laugh, amused, and I applaud, for my perception is swifter than Monsieur's tongue; it has skipped on a mile of the plan, and turned to meet the tardy wit of my Mortlake. "'So be it,' I cry, with smiles. 'You want me to put you in those cavalry boots of Captain Brand, that you may win his castle and his Marguerite.' "To my surprise my friend writhes with anger--half chokes over this: "'His castle and his Marguerite? Hang him! I have a better right than he to them.' "And becomes immediately mysterious, close as a mute. "When we reach London, and find that Monsieur le Capitaine is really selling his commission in the Guards, and going to America, my Mortlake reveals his well-considered plot to me. "'Calembours, you are such a plausible rogue,' says my coarse friend, 'that you might be a great help to me in the plan I've thought of.' "'Dear friend, you flatter me,' I, smiling, reply. 'Command me.' "'This fellow is in love with some woman of rank here in London,' pursues my Mortlake. 'I can't find out her name, he's such a proud fellow; but that's the reason why he throws off the woman at Castle Brand and forswears the fortune. Now, d'ye see, Calembours, how we can turn his tomfoolery to account?' "I bow; I am interested, but not admiring. "He can go off to the war, and somebody can go off with him, to keep an eye on him that he doesn't balk, and to worm himself into all the fellow's secrets and past history. Somebody gentlemanly and taking, and with plenty of confounded jabber about 'em. You'd do first rate, Calembours.' "'So flattered,' I smile. 'The good opinion of my dear M. Mortlake is so consoling.' "'You could creep round him so nicely,' observed my friend; 'you could get anything you liked out of him, you've got such an innocent look, you dog; while I can't become the polished gentleman without practice, fact being that I've forgotten the talk. I was once as swell as any of 'em--was in the army, bedad! an artillery officer; but luck changed, curse it! and my company wasn't so high-flying, though we were a jolly pack for all that, especially after the day's duties were over.' "'Was monsieur a soldier or a knight of the pen?' I ask. "He shows his long teeth in a snarling smile.