After the meal, such as it was, he wandered out of the hut, to escape the fumes and the company within; but he was presently accosted by the same stranger, who, touching his slouched Panama hat, made him a speech in Spanish, too long and fluent for his comprehension, at the same time offering him a cigar.  He was civilly refusing, when, to his surprise, the man interrupted him in good English.  ’These swamps breed fever, to a certainty.  A cigar is the only protection; and even then there is nothing more dangerous than to be out at sunset.’

‘Thank you, I am much obliged,’ said Louis, turning towards the hut.  ‘Have you been long out here?’

’The first time on the Isthmus; but I know these sort of places.  Pray go in, my Lord.’

The title and the accent startled Louis, and he exclaimed, ’You must be from the Northwold country?’

He drew back, and said bluntly, ’Never mind me, only keep out of this pestiferous air.’

But the abrupt surliness completed the recognition, and, seizing his hand, Louis cried, ‘Tom! how are you?’ You have turned into a thorough Spaniard, and taken me in entirely.’

’Only come in, my Lord; I would never have spoken to you, but that I could not see you catching your death.’

’I am coming:  but what’s the matter?  Why avoid me, when you are the very man I most wished to see?’

‘I’m done for,’ said Tom.  ’The fellows up there have saddled their rogueries on me, and I’m off to the States.  I—­’

’What do you say?  There, I am coming in.  Be satisfied, Tom; I am come out with a commission from Mr. Dynevor, to see what can be arranged.’

‘That’s right,’ cried Tom, ’now poor Miss Ponsonby will have one friend.’

‘Your letter to Charlotte brought me out—­’ began Louis; but Madison broke in with an expression of dismay and self-reproach at seeing him walking somewhat lame.

‘It is only when I am tired, and not thinking of it,’ said Louis; ’do you know that old ash stick, Tom, my constant friend?  See, here are the names of all the places I have seen cut out on it.’

‘I knew it, and you, the moment you sat down by the table,’ said Tom, in a tone of the utmost feeling, as Louis took his arm.  ’You are not one to forget.’

‘And yet you were going to pass me without making yourself known.’

‘A disgraced man has no business to be known,’ said Tom, low and hoarsely.  ’No, I wish none of them ever to hear my name again; and but for the slip of the tongue that came so naturally, you should not, but I was drawn to you, and could not help it.  I am glad I have seen you once more, my Lord—­’

He would have left him at the entrance, but Louis held him fast.

’You are the very man I depend on for unravelling the business.  A man cannot be disgraced by any one but himself, and that is not the case with you, Tom.’

‘No, thank Heaven,’ said Tom, fervently; ’I’ve kept my honesty, if I have lost all the rest.’