CHAPTER XI 



THE COMPACT 



*' Come into the smoke-room," said Mr Dashwood 

 when they had shaken hands. "This is luck! I 

 only came over by the morning boat. I'm coming 

 down West. Oh, I'll tell you all about it in a 

 minute. Come on into the smoking-room and 

 have a drink." 



Mr Dashwood seemed in the highest of good 

 spirits. He led the way into the smoking-room, 

 rang the bell, ordered two whiskies and an Apoll- 

 inaris and cigars, chaffed the Hibernian waiter, 

 who was a " character," and then, comfortably 

 seated, began his conversation with French. 



" Here's luck! " said Mr Dashwood. 



" Luck! " responded French, taking a sip of his 

 drink. 



" This is the first drink I've had to-day," said 

 Mr Dashwood. " I've felt as seedy as an owl. 

 It was an awfully rough crossing, but I didn't 

 touch anything. I tell you what, French, since I 

 saw you last I've been going it hard, but I've pulled 

 up. You see," said Mr Dashwood, " I'm not a 

 drinking man, and when a fellow of that sort goes 

 on the jag he makes a worse ja.g of it than one of 

 your old seasoned topers." 



126 



i 



