Mike saw that Frank had only met with failure; so he was tempted to brandish his successes. He gave a humorous description of his friends--how he had picked them up; how they had supplied him with horses to ride and guns to shoot with. "And what about the young ladies? Were they included in the hospitality?" "They included themselves. How delicious love in a country house is!--and how different from other love it is, to follow a girl dressed for dinner into the drawing-room or library, and to take her by the waist, to feel a head leaning towards you and a mouth closing upon yours! Above all, when the room is in darkness--better still in the firelight--the light of the fire on her neck.... How good these oysters are! Have some more champagne." Then, in a sudden silence, a music-hall gent was heard to say that some one was a splendid woman, beautifully developed. "Now then, Lubi, old man, I toss you for a sovereign," cried a lord, who looked like a sandwich-man in his ample driving-coat. "You no more toss with me, I have done with you; you too sharp for me." "What! are you going to cut me? Are you going to warn me off your restaurant?" Roars of laughter followed, and the lions of song gazed in admiration on the lord. "I may be hard up," cried the lord; "but I'm damned if I ever look hard up; do I, Lubi?" "Since you turn up head when you like, why should you look hard up?" "You want us to believe you are a 'mug,' Lubi, that's about it, but it won't do. 'Mugs' are rare nowadays. I don't know where to go and look for them.... I say, Lubi," and he whispered something in the restaurateur's ear, "if you know of any knocking about, bring them down to my place; you shall stand in." "Damn me! You take me for a pump, do you? You get out!" The genial lord roared the more, and assured Lubi he meant "mugs," and offered to toss him for a sovereign. "How jolly this is!" said Mike. "I'm dying for a gamble; I feel as if I could play as I never played before. I have all the cards in my mind's eye. By George! I wish I could get hold of a 'mug,' I'd fleece him to the tune of five hundred before he knew where he was. But look at that woman! She's not bad." "A great coarse creature like that! I never could understand you.... Have you heard of Lily Young lately?" Mike's face fell. "No," he said, "I have not. She is the only woman I ever loved. I would sooner see her than the green cloth. I really believe I love that girl. Somehow I cannot forget her." "Well, come and see her to-day. Take your eyes off that disgusting harlot." "No, not to-day," he replied, without removing his eyes. Five minutes after he said, "Very well, I will go. I must see her." The waiter was called, the bill was paid, a hansom was hailed, and they were rolling westward. In the pleasure of this little expedition, Mike's rankling animosity was almost forgotten. He said--