with the letters E.L.V., signifying 'En la Ville;' and after some delay he was ushered into the room of Lord Cadbury, whom he found in a rich _robe de chambre_ tied with silk cords, and wearing an elaborate smoking-cap. He laid his cigar on the stove, near which he was standing, and tried to eye his visitor superciliously, and to the acute eyes of the latter his large feet, coarse hands and ears, looked rather strange in an English peer; but he inherited them with the alderman's money, and they showed the plebeian drop in his blood, as also did his love for trinkets and personal adornment. 'You call yourself Captain Victor Gabion of the Belgian Artillery,' said he, glancing at the card, and tossing it beside his cigar. 'I am Captain Victor Gabion, of the Belgian Artillery,' replied the officer, quietly. 'And what do you want with me? I have not the honour of your acquaintance,' said Cadbury, having all the while a perfect intuition of his visitor's purpose. 'I am here in the interest of Captain Bevil Goring, of Her Britannic Majesty's service, and monsieur must know with what views.' 'Haven't the slightest idea,' yawned Cadbury, yet nervously, as he resumed his cigar. 'Well, it is to arrange an hour and place for a mutual meeting, with swords, or pistols more probably.' 'Oh, indeed. Very kind and considerate of you to take such interest in my affairs; but I don't suppose, Captain--what's your name?--oh, ah, Victor Gabion--that a peer of the realm was, even of old, when such things were in fashion, obliged to go out with a commoner, nor am I with this fellow, who, as you no doubt know, was but recently in the hands of your authorities. Moreover, people don't fight duels now.' 'In England, so I believe, but monsieur is in Belgium.' 'D--n Belgium, I am not likely to forget that.' 'If monsieur adopts this tone to me, I shall have the pleasure of a little turn with him after.' 'After what?' asked Cadbury, with dilated eyes. 'After Captain Goring's affair is over.' 'The devil you will!' exclaimed the peer, greatly ruffled. '_Sapristi_--yes.' Pleasant this! thought Lord Cadbury; two duels in prospect after all his schemes, and 'no end' of money, and Alison slipped through his fingers after all! 'Monsieur will refer me to a friend?' said the Belgian, who waited quietly a little time for him to speak, standing, too, for he had never been offered a chair. 'A friend--for what purpose?' asked Cadbury, savagely. 'To arrange with me for you and Captain Goring.' Cadbury felt fairly cornered, and compelled to affect a virtue which he did not possess. 'If monsieur has no friend in Antwerp, one of my brother officers will, I have no doubt, be happy to act for him.' 'Thanks, very much--what a considerate lot you are, you Belgians! Never mind about a friend--I'll get one if I want him--name your time and place.' 'Shall we say eight o'clock to-morrow morning, at the citadel?' 'All right--I am your man!'