Without appearing even to see Mr. Losely, the Colonel, in his turn, as he glided past him towards Mrs. Haughton, had, with what is proverbially called the corner of the eye, taken the whole of that impostor’s superb personnel into calm survey, had read him through and through, and decided on these two points without the slightest hesitation,--“a lady-killer and a sharper.” Quick as breathing had been the effect thus severally produced on Mrs. Haughton’s visitors, which it has cost so many words to describe,--so quick that the Colonel, without any apparent pause of dialogue, has already taken up the sentence Lionel left uncompleted, and says, as he bows over Mrs. Haughton’s hand, “Come on purpose to claim acquaintance with an old friend’s widow, a young friend’s mother.” MRS. HAUGHTON.--“I am sure, Colonel Morley, I am very much flattered. And you, too, knew the poor dear Captain; ‘t is so pleasant to think that his old friends come round us now. This gentleman, also, was a particular friend of dear Charles’s.” The Colonel had somewhat small eyes, which moved with habitual slowness. He lifted those eyes, let them drop upon Jasper (who still stood in the middle of the room, with one hand still half-extended towards Lionel), and letting the eyes rest there while he spoke, repeated, “Particular friend of Charles Haughton,--the only one of his particular friends whom I never had the honour to see before.” Jasper, who, whatever his deficiency in other virtues, certainly did not lack courage, made a strong effort at self-possession, and without replying to the Colonel, whose remark had not been directly addressed to himself, said in his most rollicking tone, “Yes, Mrs. Haughton, Charles was my particular friend, but,” lifting his eyeglass, “but this gentleman was,” dropping the eyeglass negligently, “not in our set, I suppose.” Then advancing to Lionel, and seizing his hand, “I must introduce myself,--the image of your father, I declare! I was saying to Mrs. Haughton how much I should like to see you; proposing to her, just as you came in, that we should go to the play together. Oh, ma’am, you may trust him to me safely. Young men should see Life!” Here Jasper tipped Lionel one of those knowing winks with which he was accustomed to delight and ensnare the young friends of Mr. Poole, and hurried on: “But in an innocent way, ma’am, such as mothers would approve. We’ll fix an evening for it when I have the honour to call again. Good morning, Mrs. Haughton. Your hand again, sir (to Lionel). Ah, we shall be great friends, I guess! You must let me take you out in my cab; teach you to handle the ribbons, eh? ‘Gad, my old friend Charles was a whip. Ha! Ha! Goodday, good-day!”