CHAPTER TEN.
ROBERT RATMAN, ESQUIRE, GENTLEMAN.
The next morning, as Captain Oliphant, somewhat depressed by the good news of last might was, attempting to write to his dear cousin expression his thankfulness for the mercies vouchsafed to their precious boy, he was considerably disturbed to feel himself slapped on the shoulder and hear a voice behind him exclaim-- "Got you, my man.

How are you, Teddy!" The captain turned with, a startled face, and confronted a stylishly- dressed man of about thirty-five, who, but for the dissipated look of his eyes and the vulgarity of his ornaments, might have passed for a gentleman.

He wore a light suit--diamonds and turquoises blazed from his fingers, a diamond stud flashed from his shirt front, and from his heavy watch chain hung a bunch of seals and charms enough to supply half a dozen, men of ordinary pretensions His light hat was tilted at an angle on his head, his brilliant kid boots sparkled beneath the snow- white "spats," and the lavender gloves he flourished in his hands were light enough for a ball-room.
Once he might have been a handsome man.

There were still traces of determination about his mouth, his nose was finely cut, and his lustreless eyes still retained occasional flashes of their old spirit.
There was a recklessness in his face and demeanour which once, when it belonged to an honest man, might been attractive; and when he took off his hat and you saw the well-shaped head with its crisp curly hair, you could not help feeling that you saw the ruin of a fine fellow.
It was when he began to talk that you would best understand what a ruin it was.

He was chary of his oaths and loose expressions--but when he spoke the words came out vulgarly, with a sleepy, half-tipsy drawl, which jarred on the ear.
Any words from the lips of Robert Ratman, however, would have jarred on the ears of Captain Oliphant.
"Aren't you glad to see me ?" said the new arrival, putting his hat cheerfully on the writing-table and helping himself to an easy-chair.
"As usual, writing _billets doux_ to the ladies! Ah, Teddy, my boy, at your time of life too! Now, for a youngster like me--" "I thought you would not be able to leave Southampton till the end of the week ?" "Couldn't resist the temptation of giving you a pleasant surprise.