And if Silas B.Barker junior would not vouch for him any longer, who would, pray?
Obviously, no one.
"Dukes are very pretty things," said Mr.Barker; "and to know them intimately is a special grace.

But they cannot swear to what they do not know anything about, any more than other people." And he lit another cigar, and looked at the clock, an old-fashioned black-marble timepiece with gilded hands.

It wanted half an hour of midnight, and Mr.Barker's solitude had lasted since seven or thereabouts.

Some one entered the room, bidding good-night to some one else at the door.

Mr.Barker turned his eyes, and, recognising a friend, he smiled a wrinkled smile.
"Well, Mr.Screw, how goes it ?" he said.