Lord Trimmerstone was in doubt how to proceed; and after a few moments’ hesitation, he thought it best to walk into the coffee-room as if not having seen the gentlemen, and to give them an opportunity to part, or at least to lay aside their confidential looks, before he fixed his eyes upon them. The opening of the door soon excited their attention, and they presently assumed a different complexion towards each other; so that by the time that his lordship thought proper to see and recognise them, there was so great a change of look as to corroborate his suspicion. He knew, however, that it would not answer his purpose to manifest the slightest symptom of what was passing in his mind; he therefore greeted them carelessly, and received their careless reply. Attentively as he could, he watched the countenance of the young gentleman, and thought he saw in that face symptoms of more advanced age than he had given him credit for. He was very sure that it was not the face of an inexperienced simpleton. There was, notwithstanding all efforts to the contrary, a feeling of embarrassment between the parties; and much common-place talk was uttered at awkward little intervals, before any allusion was made to the transaction of the preceding evening. Sloper at length said: “Trimmerstone, I have been endeavouring to make an arrangement with our young friend to let us have our revenge. When will it suit you to meet us? Will to-morrow night be convenient?” Now it happened that his lordship had already written his name on several inconvenient pieces of paper and in connexion with certain ugly figures, and he was not very desirous of multiplying and enlarging these perplexities. He would have been happy to have his revenge; but it appeared very probable that the only revenge which he should be likely to obtain, would be to inflict on the person of Mr. Singleton Sloper the castigation of a horsewhip. “I cannot say this moment; but if you will step home with me, Sloper, I will see how my engagements stand, and give you an answer; which you may communicate to our friend.” Mr. Singleton Sloper did not much approve of this arrangement, but was, nevertheless, unwilling to exhibit any strong symptoms of disapprobation. He only said: “I will follow you in half an hour.” This, however, would not answer his lordship’s purpose, for he was very desirous of ascertaining the nature of those papers which Sloper had just received from the young gentleman. “Oh no, come with me now, for I have an engagement an hour hence.” Thus saying, his lordship took Singleton by the arm and led him away, saying to the young stranger, “You shall hear by my friend Mr. Sloper, when it will be convenient to have another meeting.”