Algernon failed to command his countenance.  He glanced at one of the portraits, and said, “Who is that girl up there?  Tell us her name.  Talking of Mrs. Lovell, has she ever seen it?”

“If you’ll put on your coat, my dear Algy, I will talk to you about Mrs. Lovell.”  Edward kept his penetrative eyes on Algernon.  “Listen to me:  you’ll get into a mess there.”

“If I must listen, Ned, I’ll listen in my shirt-sleeves, with all respect to the lady.”

“Very well.  The shirt-sleeves help the air of bravado.  Now, you know that I’ve what they call ‘knelt at her feet.’  She’s handsome.  Don’t cry out.  She’s dashing, and as near being a devil as any woman I ever met.  Do you know why we broke?  I’ll tell you.  Plainly, because I refused to believe that one of her men had insulted her.  You understand what that means.  I declined to be a chief party in a scandal.”

“Declined to fight the fellow?” interposed Algernon.  “More shame to you!”

“I think you’re a year younger than I am, Algy.  You have the privilege of speaking with that year’s simplicity.  Mrs. Lovell will play you as she played me.  I acknowledge her power, and I keep out of her way.  I don’t bet; I don’t care to waltz; I can’t keep horses; so I don’t lose much by the privation to which I subject myself.”

“I bet, I waltz, and I ride.  So,” said Algernon, “I should lose tremendously.”

“You will lose, mark my words.”

“Is the lecture of my year’s senior concluded?” said Algernon.

“Yes; I’ve done,” Edward answered.

“Then I’ll put on my coat, Ned, and I’ll smoke in it.  That’ll give you assurance I’m not going near Mrs. Lovell, if anything will.”

“That gives me assurance that Mrs. Lovell tolerates in you what she detests,” said Edward, relentless in his insight; “and, consequently, gives me assurance that she finds you of particular service to her at present.”

Algernon had a lighted match in his hand.  He flung it into the fire.  “I’m hanged if I don’t think you have the confounded vanity to suppose she sets me as a spy upon you!”

A smile ran along Edward’s lips.  “I don’t think you’d know it, if she did.”

“Oh, you’re ten years older; you’re twenty,” bawled Algernon, in an extremity of disgust.  “Don’t I know what game you’re following up?  Isn’t it clear as day you’ve got another woman in your eye?”

“It’s as clear as day, my good Algy, that you see a portrait hanging in my chambers, and you have heard Mrs. Lovell’s opinion of the fact.  So much is perfectly clear.  There’s my hand.  I don’t blame you.  She’s a clever woman, and like many of the sort, shrewd at guessing the worst.  Come, take my hand.  I tell you, I don’t blame you.  I’ve been little dog to her myself, and fetched and carried, and wagged my tail.  It’s charming while it lasts.  Will you shake it?”

“Your tail, man?” Algernon roared in pretended amazement.