“Is he a man of note?” asked Tom, with pardonable curiosity.

“In his way he is; you probably would not know the name; but he has friends in high places:  He and I have never loved each other.  He has balked me more than once, and I have had my revenge at the gaming table and in other places, which he is not likely to forgive or forget.  The other day he sought to provoke me by almost open insult.  It was not a woman, Tom.  I have enough on my hands without embroiling myself in affairs of gallantry.  There are women, doubtless, who are worth the championship of honest men; but in our world of London town they are few and far between.  Let them and their quarrels alone, Tom, if you would keep out of trouble.”

Lord Claud was speaking now with a sarcastic intonation rather unusual with him.  He was more thoughtful and grave than Tom had ever seen him, but the youth did not dare to ask the cause.  Indeed, it seemed to him that a man who had a duel to fight upon the morrow with a dangerous adversary had reason enough for gravity and thought.

“Tom,” said Lord Claud suddenly, breaking a rather long silence, “I feel sometimes that I have had enough for once of the trammels of town life.  I am weary of the slavery of levee, and gaming table, and playhouse.  There are better things in life than foppery and idle dissipation.  What do you think of it all, my honest Tom?”

“I find it vastly entertaining,” answered Tom truthfully; “but I feel me something out of place amongst all the fine fops I meet everywhere.”

“You would like to travel and see the world?  There is another world besides that of London town.”

“I would see more of London town ere I leave it,” answered Tom frankly; “but I would fain see other things and places, too.”

“Wilt come farther afield with me, if I go?” asked Lord Claud, with a quick sidelong glance at the tall figure of his companion.  “A man of thews and sinews, who knows not fear, is the comrade in whom my heart delights; but there be so few of them amid yon crowd of painted popinjays.”

The compliment tickled Tom’s vanity, just as the preference shown him from the first by so great a man as Lord Claud touched his naturally quick affections.

“Let me but see this wonderful city first, my lord, and I will follow you to the world’s end!” he cried impulsively.

“You shall have your wish, trusty Tom,” answered Lord Claud, his face clearing and his brilliant smile shining forth.  “In sooth, I have no desire to quit it just yet.  I would fain be one of those to welcome back the great Duke, who will be here ere the year closes; and you should not miss seeing the pageant which will greet the victor of Blenheim.  It may even be that the Duke himself will find employment for his poor servants.

“Hast ever heard of the secret service, Tom?  No?  Well, there be openings enow for men of courage and resource.  It may be that you and I may find work for us to do.  When all Europe is at war, country with country, and kingdom with kingdom, there is work and to spare for trusty messengers, stout of heart and strong of arm.  Who knows but that such luck as that may come in our way?”