"I'm a s'h'ailor bold, a s'h'ailor bold, Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm a s'h'ailor bold, a s'h'ailor bold, Ho! Ho! Ho!" "Stop your infernal din!" said Lloyd Dulany, "or we will take you up stairs, and put you to bed." Cole struggled to his feet, and stood swaying, uncertainly, for a moment. "I'm ins'h'ulted!" he said, "ins'h'ulted!" Jennings pushed him back in a chair. "You're drunk, again, Cole," he said. "Just go to sleep and forget it." "Is'h that advi'sh of a frien'?" "Yes--very much a friend." "That s'h'ettles it--a frien' always safe," and he sat down heavily, and almost, instantly, was asleep. "Cole's only occupation in life seems to be to sober up so as to be able to get drunk again," said Jennings to Parkington; "and that is why we tolerate him." "Every one of us has some fault," said Parkington. "I am----" His voice trailed off and stopped. He was facing the doorway, and, in it, a man was standing. He was a slender man, of medium height, with a wonderfully clean-cut face, and dark, expressive eyes. His coat and breeches were of dark-blue broad-cloth, his waistcoat of white linen, his stockings of black silk, and he carried a walking-stick. A second, he ran his eyes over the group; then, for the first time, he seemed to see Parkington. A look of incredulous amazement broke over his face. "Parkington! by my soul, this is a surprise!" he exclaimed, coming forward with extended hand. "I thought you were rustling it with the smarts at White's." "Brandon!" cried Sir Edward. "As I live, Brandon! Gentlemen, let me present you to Sir Charles Brandon, my very good friend and intimate." Brandon acknowledged the introduction with sweeping grace. "I am, indeed, fortunate to find Sir Edward Parkington, here," he said. "I had thought to meet only strangers; instead, I am already in the house of my friends. There is nothing like a familiar face to make one feel at home." Parkington clapped him affectionately on the shoulder. "You do not know Annapolis, Brandon!" he exclaimed. "They made me one of them from the first. I have been here two months, and I ought to be moving on, but, bless me! I have not thought of going." "And we have not thought of letting you go," said Jennings. "We are going to keep you all summer, and all winter, too, if you will remain--and your friend, also," with a bow to Brandon. "You see how it is, Brandon," said Parkington. "Stay a week, and you will stay the summer. Better depart before the allurements get too strong. I warn you; I lingered overlong." "You make it very tempting," returned Brandon. "Almost thou persuadest me to try the hazard--and to lose." An hour later, the party broke up and separated. Parkington and Brandon bade the rest farewell, and went slowly up Church Street to the Reynolds Tavern, where Brandon lodged. "Now," said Parkington, "may be you will tell me what scheme of folly brings you here? Have you not run dangers enough?"