“I see, my dear fellow.  Executors are the very devil; they have no feeling.  Never mind; there’s a way of getting to windward of them.  I dine with Harcourt, and he has come to ask you to join us.”

“With pleasure.”

“I shall expect you at seven, Newland,” said Harcourt, as he quitted the room with the Major.

“Dear me, sir, how could you let that gentleman walk off with your money?” cried Timothy.  “I was just rubbing my hands with the idea that we were L20 better off than we thought, and away it went, like smoke.”

“And will never come back again, Tim; but never mind that, it is important that I make a friend of him, and his friendship is only to be bought.  I shall have value received.  And now, Tim, we must pack up, for I leave this to-morrow morning.  I shall go down to ——­, and see little Fleta.”

I dined with Harcourt.  The Major was rather curious to know what it was which appeared to flurry Lord Windermear, and what had passed between us.  I told him that his lordship was displeased on money matters, but that all was right, only that I must be more careful for the future.  “Indeed, Major, I think I shall take lodgings.  I shall be more comfortable, and better able to receive my friends.”

Harcourt agreed with me, that it was a much better plan, when the Major observed, “Why, Newland, I have a room quite at your service; suppose you come and live with me?”

“I am afraid I shall not save by that,” replied I, laughing, “for you will not pay your share of the bills.”

“No, upon my honour I will not; so I give you fair warning; but as I always dine with you when I do not dine elsewhere, it will be a saving to you—­for you will have your lodgings, Newland; and you know the house is my own, and I let off the rest of it; so as far as that bill is concerned, you will be safe.”

“Make the best bargain you can, Newland,” said Harcourt; “accept his offer, for depend upon it, it will be a saving in the end.”

“It certainly deserves consideration,” replied I; “and the Major’s company must be allowed to have its due weight in the scale; if Carbonnell will promise to be a little more economical—­”

“I will, my dear fellow—­I will act as your steward, and make your money last as long as I can, for my own sake, as well as yours.  Is it a bargain?  I have plenty of room for your servant, and if he will assist me a little, I will discharge my own.”  I then consented to the arrangement.

Chapter XXIV

     The Major teaches me how to play Whist, so as never to lose, which
     is by playing against each other, and into each other’s hands.