stranger gently with one of the fingers inclosed in the gauntlets of the Berlin woof.

He of the many rings instantly started, or rather staggered back, into what is called an attitude of selfdefence, and in that position began the operation which is entitled "squaring," at Policeman X, and showed himself brave and warlike, if unsteady. "Hullo! keep your hands off a gentleman," he said, with an oath which need not be repeated.

"Move on out of this," said X, "and don't be a blocking up the pavement, staring into gentlemen's dining-rooms."

"Not stare ho, ho, not stare-that is a good one," replied the other, with a satiric laugh and sneer, -"Who's to prevent me from staring, looking at my friends, if I like? not you old, highlows."

"Friends! I dessay. Move on," answered X.

"If you touch me, I'll pitch into you, I will,” roared the other. "I tell you I know 'em all That's Sir Francis Clavering, Baronet, M. P. — I know him, and he knows me and that's Strong, and that's the young chap that made the row at the ball. I say, Strong, Strong!"

"It's that d- Altamont," cried Sir Francis within, with a start and a guilty look; and Strong also, with a look of annoyance, got up from the table and ran out to the intruder.

A gentleman in a white waistcoat, running out from a dining-room bare-headed, a policeman, and an individual decently attired, engaged in almost fisticuffs on the pavement were enough to make a crowd, even in that quiet neighborhood, at half past eight o'clock in the evening, and a small mob began, to assemble before Sir Francis Clavering's door. "For God's sake, come in," Strong said, seizing his acquaintance's arm.