"Thank you, my boy," said Chichester, and over Markham's shoulder, he exchanged with the baronet a significant glance of satisfaction amounting almost to joy. Meantime Mr. Talbot had rushed to his place at the dinner-table, declaring that "he was uncommonly peckish," and began sharpening his two knives one against the other. The baronet took his seat at the top of the table; Mr. Chichester at the bottom; and Markham sate opposite to Talbot. "This soup is unexceptionable," observed Chichester: "I never tasted better save once--and that was at the King of Prussia's table." "Ah! I once had d--d good pea-soup, I remember, at the Duke of Lambeth's table," ejaculated Mr. Talbot. "But, I say, who the devil's that kicking my unfortunate soft corn?" "A glass of wine, Markham?" said Chichester "I suppose we'd all better join in," suggested Talbot. "_I_ shall be happy to drink wine with _you_, Mr. Talbot," said the baronet, with a reproving emphasis upon the pronouns. "Just as you please," returned the man of charity, who certainly required some virtue or another to cover such a multitude of sins of vulgarity. "I wonder what's coming next. I say, Harborough, you haven't ordered any tripe, have you? I am so fond of tripe. There's nothing like tripe and onions for supper." The dinner passed away; and the bottle was circulated pretty freely. Richard regained his good spirits, and offered no objection when Chichester proposed a stroll up Regent's-street with a cigar. The baronet and Talbot went together first; and Markham was about to follow, when Chichester drew him back into the dining-room, and said, "Excuse me: but you went to your banker's to-day. If you have much money about you, it is not safe to carry it about the streets of London at night-time." "I have fifty-five pounds in gold and fifty pounds in notes," answered Markham. "Notes are safe enough," returned Chichester; "but gold is dangerous. Some one would be sure to _frisk_ your purse. Here--I tell you how we can manage it--give me fifty sovereigns, and I will give you a fifty pound note in exchange. I can then lock up the gold in the baronet's writing-desk, the key of which, I see, he has fortunately left in the lock." Chichester glanced, as he spoke, to the writing-desk, which stood upon a little table between the windows. "I am much obliged to you for the thought," said Richard: "it is very considerate of you." He accordingly handed over his purse of gold to his kind friend, and received in exchange a fifty pound note, which Mr. Chichester selected from a huge roll that he took from his pocket. The two gentlemen then hastened to rejoin the baronet and Talbot, whom they overtook in Regent-street. They all walked leisurely along towards the Quadrant; and while Talbot engaged Markham in conversation upon some trivial topic or another, Chichester related in a few words to the baronet the particulars of the little pecuniary arrangement which had just taken place. CHAPTER XIII.