104 TALES OF PINK AND SILK. 



" Bather !" replied Frank Lawson. " They got most of 

 my httle valuables, but I believe you suffered considerably." 



" Yes, I did. Then again, I happened to be at Tappling 

 Court when that was broken into, and there, too, I lost 

 many little trifles that I valued rather. I hope, Colonel," 

 added Strange, " that you won't have any uninvited guests 

 while I am here." 



''Not much fear of that, Strange," replied his host. 

 " These robberies that take place at dinner-time are gene- 

 rally managed through the connivance of the servants of 

 the house, and I have every confidence in mine." 



" What about the visitors' servants ? " hazarded a young 

 man in the party, 



" To suspect my guests' servants is to insult my guests," 

 said the Colonel sharply. 



" I've had my man Drake for ten years," said Strange 

 " and I've never found him fail me." And one after the 

 other each extolled the virtues of his own servant. 



" My system of electric bells," continued the Colonel. 

 " is so perfect that it is impossible for anyone to break 

 in at night; besides, my watchman comes on at ten, and 

 servants are all over the house till nearly midnight." 



"Well, let us hope there will be nothing to disturb 

 the harmony of the party, one of the most delightful and 

 enjoyable that I was ever a member of, and one which I 

 shall never forget. Good-night, Colonel and gentlemen all. 

 May I have a word with you, Frank ? " said Strange, as 

 he threw away the stump of his cigar, and, having finished 

 his tumbler of grog, moved towards the door. 



" Certainly, old man," replied young Lawson, as he 

 followed him out of the billiard-room. 



" Don't you think that it is rather a dangerous thing, 

 Frank," said Strange, as they walked slowly down the 

 passage, " to have that savage dog so much at liberty 



