THE BAZAAR 243 



" Thanks, I'll have a stone ginger-beer and a 

 biscuit, if it's all the same to you." 



" A whisky-and-soda, a stone ginger-beer and 

 some biscuits, please, Mrs Stonnor." Then, whilst 

 the landlady was serving them, " You are staying 

 in London I think you told me? " 



" Yes," said Mr Giveen. " I'm over on a httle 

 hoHday, and I just ran down here to-day to see 

 the country. Do you know the country round 

 about here? " 



"Rather!" 



" And the people? " 



*'Most of them." 



" Now, look here," said Mr Giveen. " Do you 

 happen to know anyone of the name of French 

 that's staying in the neighbourhood? " 



" Michael French, do you mean? " 



" That's him." 



" Oh, good Lord! I should think I did. An 

 awful chap. I had a row with him." 



" Did you now? So you had a row with him? 

 Faith, he's always rowing with people, and it's 

 my behef he'U do it once too often." 



" So you know him? " said Bobby, who in his 

 few minutes' knowledge of IVIr Giveen had taken 

 a hearty and whole-souled dislike to him that 

 amounted almost to a hatred. 



" Know him ! " said Mr Giveen. " None better. 

 I just came down to ask after him; but since I've 

 met you, you can tell me all I want to know." 



" Dehghted, I'm sure." 



