Mr. Tyrrwhit contrived to get all the others out of the room, he remaining there with Hart and Augustus Scarborough and Mr. Barry.  And then Hart did sign the document with altered figures:  only that so much was added on to the sum which he agreed to accept, and a similar deduction made from that to which Mr. Tyrrwhit’s name was signed.  But this was not done without renewed expostulation from the latter gentleman.  It was very hard, he said, that all the sacrifice should be made by him.  He would be ruined, utterly ruined by the transaction.  But he did sign for the altered sum, and Mr. Hart also signed the paper.  “Now, Mr. Barry, as the matter is completed, I think I will withdraw,” said Augustus.

“It’s five thousand pounds clean gone out of my pocket,” said Hart, “and I vas as sure of it as ever I vas in my life.  There vas no better money than the captain’s.  Vell, vell!  This vorld’s a queer place.”  So saying, he followed Augustus and Mr. Barry out of the room, and left Mr. Tyrrwhit alone in his misery.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

VICTORIA STREET.

Lounging in an arm-chair in a small but luxuriously furnished room in Victoria Street sat Captain Mountjoy Scarborough, and opposite to him, equally comfortably placed, as far as externals were concerned, but without any of that lounging look which the captain affected, sat his brother.  It was nearly eight o’clock, and the sound of the dinner-plates could be heard through the open doors from the next room.  It was evident, or at any rate was the fact, that Augustus found his brother’s presence a bore, and as evident that the captain intended to disregard the dissatisfaction evinced by the owner of the chambers.  “Do shut the door, Mountjoy,” said the younger.  “I don’t suppose we want the servant to hear everything that we say.”

“He’s welcome for me,” said Mountjoy, without moving.  Then Augustus got up and banged the door.  “Don’t be angry because I sometimes forget that I am no longer considered to be your elder brother,” said Mountjoy.

“Bother about elder brothers!  I suppose you can shut a door?”

“A man is sometimes compelled by circumstances to think whether he can or not.  I’d’ve shut the door for you readily enough the other day.  I don’t know that I can now.  Ain’t we going to have some dinner?  It’s eight o’clock.”

“I suppose they’ll get dinner for you;—­I’m not going to dine here.”  The two men were both dressed and after this they remained silent for the next five minutes.  Then the servant came in and said that dinner was ready.