When Railsford, on the evening in question, crushed Mr Bickers's note up in his hand, with an angry exclamation, monsieur said-- "_Voila, mon cher_ Railsford, you do not get always _billets-doux_ ?" Monsieur had heard, of course, as everyone else had, of the new master's matrimonial prospects.
"No," said Railsford, gloomily; "not always," and he pitched Mr Bickers's letter into the grate as he spoke.
"Perhaps," said monsieur, "you do not always write them.

I advise you to not answer that letter." "Why ?" said Railsford, "how do you know what that letter is ?" "I do not know; but I think that it does need no answer." Railsford laughed.

"You are setting up as a soothsayer, monsieur.
Suppose I tell you that letter does need an answer, quickly ?" "Then, I say, somebody else will answer it better than you will." Railsford picked the crushed-up letter off the coals just in time to save it from the flames.
"How should you answer it, monsieur ?" Monsieur slowly unfolded the paper and smoothed it out.
"Meester Beekaire!" said he, with a twist of his moustache, as he recognised the writing.

"You mean that I read it ?" "Certainly, if you like." The Frenchman read the document through, and then pitched it back into the fire.
"Well ?" said Railsford.
"Well, my good friend, it seems you do not know Meester Beekaire as well as others." "Is that all ?" said Railsford, a little nettled.
"The masters' meeting is to-night, is it not ?" "So he says." "You shall go ?" "Of course." "It will not be pleasant times for you, for you will need to make speeches, my good friend." "Look here," said Railsford, who was getting a little impatient of these enigmatical utterances, "I fancied you could give me some advice; if you can't, let us talk about something more pleasant." "I do give you advice.

I say to you, go to the meeting, and say you did wrong, and will not do it again--" "What!" thundered Mark, in a voice which made Arthur and the baronet in the room overhead jump out of their chairs.
"My kind Railsford, it is only my advice.