"I like not these follies much, Arranmore; a wolf or boar hunt, or even a run with the hounds I like, for there is danger, and without danger is little pleasure. But a picnic is a d--d blind to get a score of palefaced lovers and love-sick damsels together. Lord knows how many brace I sprung in the woods to-day; they were as thick as snipes in the marsh; there was Musgrave and his sweetheart, and Scroop and his; chief among offenders the Earl and Ellen Ravensworth; you, I, and L'Estrange, were the only wise men, and one is married, and one would have been a fool too, had his lady love wanted him!" answered the Captain, who never minded how much he hurt people's feelings. "How did you like the news to-night, L'Estrange?" asked the Marquis. "The foul fiend blister your tongue for throwing it in my teeth." "Halloo, my fine game cock, where did you learn to crow so loudly?" asked the Marquis, starting to his feet and upraising his immense form; "were it not I considered you a lover, and therefore, as Scroop said, a madman, I would make you eat your words, and show you you are no match for an Irish peer!" The giant form of the Marquis seemed to dilate with ire as he spoke, and he looked well capable of putting his threat into execution. "Well, you are more deeply bitten, L'Estrange, than I thought," said Sir Richard. "The devil take you all for a set of heartless, cold-blooded vipers," cried L'Estrange, his voice half passionate, and half trembling with agony; "I am mad--God help me," and with these words he sprang from his seat and rushed from the room, slamming the door behind him. For some seconds every one sat mute. "_Ecce probatio_," said the Captain, "behold the truth of my saying! There is L'Estrange, once the best of boon fellows, now soured and maddened, all because a girl he loves won't love him!" "By Jove, I have baited him a bit," said the Marquis, "but he had better not quarrel with me." The Earl's absence, combined now with L'Estrange's, seemed a death blow to the cheer that evening, and one by one the revellers left, till only the Marquis, the Captain, and Sir Richard remained behind. "Our party is neither large, nor merry to-night," said the Marquis. "Thanks to love! confound it and d--n it. I wonder what makes men such fools!" "I shall shorten your number by one," said Lord Arranmore, rising; "I hear music and dancing above, and this is very dull--if you are wise, you will follow," and so saying he left the room. Neither of the remaining pair stirred, nor did they speak for more than an hour--each sipped his toddy in silence; then the Captain rising, said, "Wait here for me, Musgrave; I will go and see what I can make of L'Estrange, and we can talk over our schemes together." "All right, I'll wait."