"Len, I'm an idiot. I always was. It's a good job idiocy isn't catching or you'd have caught it of me long ago. I made a confounded idiot of myself last night. It was all Dalrymple and Hetley's fault, and I wish they'd knock champagne off the club wine list. Did I take too much, Len?" "What do you think?" said Leonard, grimly. "I'm afraid I did. For the first time in my life, or nearly--but I didn't touch a card, Len." "I knew you wouldn't do that." "No, a promise is a promise with me," said Jack. "And I didn't drink much, Len, 'pon my honor; but I was upset, and when a man is upset he----" "He generally tries to get run over," said Leonard, with a smile. Jack stared, then he laughed. "By George! yes. I remember!" "But always does not get the luck to be rescued by a beautiful young lady--who is an heiress--and who, instead of giving him in charge for blocking the queen's highway, brings him home in her brougham." "It was a kind thing to do, certainly," said Jack, with a yawn. "Kind is a mild way of putting it," remarked Leonard. "It was more than I deserved," said Jack; "much more, and she's a brick." "The man who calls Lady Isabel Earlsley a brick should be a bold man." At last Jack looked up, and pressing his chair back, said: "And now, old man, let's hold a council of war. Subject to be considered: the future of a young man who has been cut off with a shilling--by George! the poor old fellow didn't even leave me that--who knows no trade, who cannot dig, and to beg is ashamed, and who is penniless." "Quite penniless, Jack?" asked Leonard. Jack rose, and sauntering to a drawer, pulled forth an old tobacco pouch, and pouring the contents on to the table proceeded to count the small--very small--heap of coin. "Twenty-one pounds six-and-fourpence farthing--no; it's a brass button--and a brass button." "Can't carry on this way long with that small amount of ammunition, Jack." "Just so, old Solomon. Well, what's to be done?" "You might enlist." "Get shot, and break your heart. No, I'm too fond of you, Len. Go on; anything else?" "Upon my word, you can't do anything." "Nary thing," admitted Jack, with frank candor. "What do men--well-born and high-bred men like you----" "What will you take to drink?" said Jack, bowing low. "Who have no money, and no brains----" Jack bowed again, and pitched the sugar tongs at him. "What do they do? They generally marry an heiress, Jack." "I shall never marry." "I've heard that remark before. The last it was from a man who married a fortnight afterward." "I'm not going to marry in a fortnight. Go ahead." "I've done," said Leonard with a shrug. "Solomon is dried up," said Jack. "You don't keep a large stock of wisdom on hand, old man." "I've given you the best I've got, and good advice too, with a foundation to go upon. Your heiress is ready to your hand." "What do you mean?" said Jack.