Statuettes and ferns, all reflected in the highly polished marble floor, added a theatrical touch which was not out of keeping with a somewhat ornate interior.
"It was the character," continued Langholm, "who was making the scene; and a stranger creature I have never seen on English earth.

He wore what I believe they call a Crimean shirt, and a hat like a stage cowboy; and he informed all passers that he was knocking down his check!" "What ?" cried Rachel and Sybil in one breath, but in curiously different tones.
"Knocking down his check," repeated Langholm.

"It's what they do in the far west or the bush or somewhere--but I rather fancy it's the bush--when they get arrears of wages in a lump in one check." "And where did you see all this ?" inquired Rachel, whose voice was very quiet, but her hazel eyes alight with a deeper interest than the story warranted.
"At the Packhorse on the York Road.

I came that way round for the sake of the surface and the exercise." "And did you see the check ?" "No, I only stopped for a moment, to find out what the excitement was about; but the fellow I can see now.

You never set eyes on such a pirate--gloriously drunk and bearded to the belt.