"Blandford here works like a nigger to spend his money, don't you, old man ?" "I do so," said Blandford, "with your valuable assistance." "And with somebody else's assistance too," said Mr Pillans, with a shrug in the direction of Reginald.
Reginald understood the taunt, and rose to his feet.
"You're not going ?" said Blandford.
"I am.

I don't forget I owe you for my dinner, Blandford; and I shan't forget that I owe you also for introducing me to a blackguard.

Good- night." And without allowing his hearers time to recover from the astonishment into which these words had thrown them, he marched out of the Shades with his head in the air.
It was a minute before any of the three disconcerted companions could recover the gift of speech.

At last Mr Shanklin burst out into a laugh.
"Capital, that was," he said; "there's something in the fellow.

And," he added internally, and not in the hearing of either of his companions, "if he's the same fellow Medlock has hooked, our fortune's made." "All very well," said Pillans; "but he called me a blackguard." This simple discovery caused still greater merriment at the expense of the outraged owner of the appellation.
"I've a good mind to go after him, and pull his nose," growled he.
"Nothing would please him better," said Blandford.