'Well, now, though, really it is funny; it did not strike me before, but do you know, now, it _is_,' laughs out jolly Mrs. Dolly, 'isn't it. Look at it, do, Mr. Wylder--isn't it like the ace of hearts?' Wylder was laughing rather redly, with the upper part of his face very surly, I thought. 'Never mind, Wylder, it's the winning card,' said Lord Chelford, laying his hand on his shoulder. Whereupon Lake laughed quietly, still looking on the ace of hearts with his sly eyes. And Wylder laughed too, more suddenly and noisily than the humour of the joke seemed quite to call for, and glanced a grim look from the corners of his eyes on Lake, but the gallant captain did not seem to perceive it; and after a few seconds more he handed it very innocently back to Mrs. Dorothy, only remarking-- 'Seriously, it _is_ very pretty, and _appropriate_.' And Wylder, making no remark, helped himself to a cup of coffee, and then to a glass of Curacoa, and then looked industriously at a Spanish quarto of Don Quixote, and lastly walked over to me on the hearthrug. 'What the d-- has he come down here for? It can't be for money, or balls, or play, and he has no honest business anywhere. Do you know?' 'Lake? Oh! I really can't tell; but he'll soon tire of country life. I don't think he's much of a sportsman.' 'Ha, isn't he? I don't know anything about him almost; but I hate him.' 'Why should you, though? He's a very gentlemanlike fellow and your cousin.' 'My cousin--the Devil's cousin--everyone's cousin. I don't know who's my cousin, or who isn't; nor you don't, who've been for ten years over those d--d papers; but I think he's the nastiest dog I ever met. I took a dislike to him at first sight long ago, and that never happened me but I was right.' Wylder looked confoundedly angry and flustered, standing with his heels on the edge of the rug, his hands in his pockets, jingling some silver there, and glancing from under his red forehead sternly and unsteadily across the room. 'He's not a man for country quarters! he'll soon be back in town, or to Brighton,' I said. 'If _he_ doesn't, _I_ will. That's all.' Just to get him off this unpleasant groove with a little jolt, I said-- 'By-the-bye, Wylder, you know the pictures here; who is the tall man, with the long pale face, and wild phosphoric eyes? I was always afraid of him; in a long peruke, and dark red velvet coat, facing the hall-door. I had a horrid dream about him last night.'