’But now what do you think I’ve done?  Directly I got home I told the governor all about it!  As I was in the train I made up my mind that I would.  I went slap at it.  If there is anything that never does any good, it is craning.  I did it all at one rush, just as though I was swallowing a dose of physic.  I wish I could tell you all that the governor said, because it was really tip-top.  What is a fellow to get by playing high,—­a fellow like you and me?  I didn’t want any of that beast’s money.  I don’t suppose he had any.  But one’s dander gets up, and one doesn’t like to be done, and so it goes on.  I shall cut that kind of thing altogether.  You should have heard the governor spouting Latin!  And then the way he sat upon Percival, without mentioning the fellow’s name!  I do think it mean to set yourself to work to win money at cards,—­and it is awfully mean to lose more than you have got to pay.

’Then at the end the governor said he’d send the beast a cheque for the amount.  You know his way of finishing up, just like two fellows fighting,—­when one has awfully punished the other he goes up and shakes hands with him.  He did pitch it into me,—­not abusing me, nor even saying a word about the money, which he at once promised to pay, but laying it on to gambling with a regular cat-o’-ninetails.  And then there was an end of it.  He just asked the fellow’s address and said that he would send him the money.  I will say this;—­I don’t think there’s a greater brick than the governor anywhere.

’I am awfully sorry about Tregear.  I can’t make out how it happened.  I suppose you were too near him, and Melrose always does rush at his fences.  One fellow shouldn’t be too near another fellow,—­only it so often happens that it can’t be helped.  It’s just like anything else, if nothing comes of it then it’s all right.  But if anybody comes to grief then he’s got to be pitched into.  Do you remember when I nearly cut over old Sir Simon Slowbody?  Didn’t I hear about it!

’I am awfully glad you didn’t smash up Tregear altogether because of Mary.  I am quite sure it is no good anybody setting up his back against that.  It’s one of the things that have got to be.  You always have said that he is a good fellow.  If so, what’s the harm?  At any rate it has got to be.

’Your affectionate Brother,
Gerald.’

‘I go up in about a week.’

CHAPTER 66

The Three Attacks

During the following week the communication between Harrington and Matching were very frequent.  There were no further direct messages between Tregear and Lady Mary, but she heard daily of his progress.  The Duke was conscious of the special interest which existed in his house as to the condition of the young man, but, after his arrival not a word had been spoken for some days between him and his daughter on the subject.  Then Gerald went back to his college, and the Duke made his preparations for going up to town and making some attempt at parliamentary activity.