“A bagman, sir! and what right has a bagman to gamble? Gentlemen gamble, sir; tradesmen, sir, have no business with the amusements of the gentry. What business had you with barons and lords’ sons, sir?—serve you right, sir.” “Sir,” says Pogson, with some dignity, “merit, and not birth, is the criterion of a man: I despise an hereditary aristocracy, and admire only Nature’s gentlemen. For my part, I think that a British merch—” “Hold your tongue, sir,” bounced out the Major, “and don’t lecture me; don’t come to me, sir, with your slang about Nature’s gentlemen—Nature’s tomfools, sir! Did Nature open a cash account for you at a banker’s, sir? Did Nature give you an education, sir? What do you mean by competing with people to whom Nature has given all these things? Stick to your bags, Mr. Pogson, and your bagmen, and leave barons and their like to their own ways.” “Yes, but, Major,” here cried that faithful friend, who has always stood by Pogson; “they won’t leave him alone.” “The honorable gent says I must fight if I don’t pay,” whimpered Sam. “What! fight YOU? Do you mean that the honorable gent, as you call him, will go out with a bagman?” “He doesn’t know I’m a—I’m a commercial man,” blushingly said Sam: “he fancies I’m a military gent.” The Major’s gravity was quite upset at this absurd notion; and he laughed outrageously. “Why, the fact is, sir,” said I, “that my friend Pogson, knowing the value of the title of Captain, and being complimented by the Baroness on his warlike appearance, said, boldly, he was in the army. He only assumed the rank in order to dazzle her weak imagination, never fancying that there was a husband, and a circle of friends, with whom he was afterwards to make an acquaintance; and then, you know, it was too late to withdraw.” “A pretty pickle you have put yourself in, Mr. Pogson, by making love to other men’s wives, and calling yourself names,” said the Major, who was restored to good humor. “And pray, who is the honorable gent?” “The Earl of Cinqbars’ son,” says Pogson, “the Honorable Tom Ringwood.” “I thought it was some such character; and the Baron is the Baron de Florval-Delval?” “The very same.”