Alexander perceived his uneasiness and rang the hand bell that stood upon the table. Everage took out his purse. “Put that up, if you please, Everage. I invited you here; and you are my guest,” said Alexander, taking out _his_ purse. “See here, Killcrichtoun! upon one pretense or another _you always_ contrive to do this thing. Now I am not going to stand it any longer. Unless you let me foot the bill sometimes, and unless you let me foot it now, I can never lunch with you again,” said the poor gentleman, with much dignity; then turning to the waiter who at that instant made his appearance, he added—“Let me have our bill immediately.” The mercury vanished to execute the order. “But, really, Everage——” began Alexander. “But, really, Killcrichtoun,” interrupted the poor gentleman, “though this is too small a matter to dispute about, you must let me have my will.” Alexander gave way. The waiter came and put the bill in Everage’s hands and the usher, who had that day received his second quarter’s salary, amounting to barely fifteen pounds, paid thirty shillings for their lunch, and bestowed half a crown on the waiter who served them. Alexander sighed and groaned in the spirit as he saw this; but he could do nothing on earth to prevent it, or to remedy it. What in the world is one to do in such a case with a sensitive, poor gentleman? He would be alive to all your ruses, and feel hurt by them and defeat them. Alexander would rather have paid ten times the amount from his own ample means than seen the usher discharge the bill from his slender stock. Then they arose from the table and went back to their cab. And Alick ordered the cabman to drive to the street where the school-house in which Everage served was situated, and he dropped the usher. I declare that up to this day Clarence Everage had entertained no idea of gaining his ends by evil means. But the story that he had heard from Alexander was a startling and curious and interesting one; and he could not help brooding over it and speculating upon it. Lord Killcrichtoun had a wife and child! The fact at first view seemed very fatal to Everage’s hopes of ever succeeding to the title; but upon closer consideration it was not so. Lord Killcrichtoun was hopelessly estranged from his wife; but he was not divorced from her, nor free to marry again. He had but one child, his son and heir; and if anything should happen to this child, Lord Killcrichtoun, in his peculiar circumstances, could not hope for other legal offspring, and Everage would be quite secure in his position as heir presumptive of the barony. And Alexander really looked paler, thinner, and more cadaverous than ever! Truly in much worse health than before! Clearly not long for this world! And if anything should happen to the child before his father’s death, Everage would not long be kept out of his inheritance!