Wait a moment! He had a letter.

We were at breakfast and the letter came from Captain Barstow.

There was some phrase in the letter which Mr.Hine repeated.
'As between gentlemen'-- that was it! I remember thinking at the time what in the world Captain Barstow could know about gentlemen; and wondering why the phrase should trouble Mr.Hine.And that morning Mr.
Hine went to London." "Oh, did he ?" cried Chayne.

"'As between gentlemen.' Had Hine been losing money lately to Captain Barstow ?" "Yes, on the day when you first came." "The starlings," exclaimed Chayne in some excitement.

"That's it--Walter Hine owes money to Captain Barstow which he can't pay.