"But would it not be fair," I asked, "to take stock of the qualities to be exchanged for those you have demanded?" "Fair, yes; but a man hardly likes to appraise himself; in fact, I doubt that he can do it truthfully. Yet I'll try. I am thirty-two, heart-whole and fancy-free, the possessor of a rentroll of five or six thousand a year, hold a commission in the King's Guards, am sound in wind and limb, good in temper, possess some small learning which I got at Oxford, and--faith, that's all." I laughed. I could not help it. "That's the assurance of mankind," I said at last. "Do you give me leave to speak frankly about you?" "I invite you to do so," returned the captain complacently. "Here you are, just an ordinary, commonplace soldier approaching middle life, of good birth and reasonable fortune, declaring that nothing can suit you but the never-to-be-realised ideal you have described." "You are, indeed, frank," returned Sir Hugh resentfully. "I am," I answered, "and I will be more so. If you wish, I will give you my own ideal of womankind." "I should like to hear what your vast experience has evolved," returned the other, somewhat sarcastically. "She shall be small, tender, meek, adoring, dark of hair and eye, dainty and nice of taste and appearance. She shall hang upon my words, attempt no equality with me, come to my hand, and..." "You want a dog, not a woman," said the captain, laughing. "When you have seen more, your views will differ." "It may be." "And what, pray, is your ideal man?" he asked lightly. "He shall be tall and strong and brave and true, with bright hair and blue eyes, a soldier by profession, and fierce to all the world but reserving his tender side for me.... I mean for the woman that he loves," I added hastily to cover my slip. "He shall worship her and think her as far above him as the stars." "You ought to marry your ideal man to your ideal woman," interposed the captain jocosely, "and see what the result would be. 'Fore God, sir, I'd like to observe such a union. Meanwhile, give me leave as an older man. We have talked enough sentiment for a boxful of French romances. It hath made me thirsty. Another bottle of wine, pray." He rapped on the table as he spoke, and bade it brought. "And then, when the remains of our supper shall be cleared away, I propose that we pass an hour in play before we retire for the night. I at least must make an early start to-morrow." "I am agreeable," said I. "We have exchanged views upon our ladies and their cavaliers, and I am willing to back my luck against your own." "With what shall we play?" "With dice," I answered. "At any game of skill with such a veteran as you I would be at too great a disadvantage." "True," said the captain, looking me over carefully. "Thou art a queer lad, but I like thee." "The regard is mutual," said I. "What shall the stakes be?" "Let us play for shillings," he said after a thoughtful moment.