Had she lived and had my father smoked the affair--Gad! he would ha' broke me; he would so!" he repeated, and emptied his glass.
Mr.Caryll, white to the lips, sat very still a moment.

Then he did a curious thing; did it with a curious suddenness.

He took a knife from the table, and hacked off the lowest button from his coat.

This he pushed across the board to his father.
"To turn to other matters," said he; "there is the letter you were expecting from abroad." "Eh?
What ?" Lord Ostermore took up the button.

It was of silk, interwoven with gold thread.