Lady Lundie (taking Blanche in custody) withdrew, at the same time, to return to the serious business of her invitations for the dinner.

Geoffrey turned defiantly, book in hand, to his college friends about him.

The British blood was up; and the British resolution to bet, which successfully defies common decency and common-law from one end of the country to the other, was not to be trifled with.
"Come on!" cried Geoffrey.

"Back the doctor, one of you!" Sir Patrick rose in undisguised disgust, and followed the surgeon.

One, Two, and Three, invited to business by their illustrious friend, shook their thick heads at him knowingly, and answered with one accord, in one eloquent word--"Gammon!" "One of _you_ back him!" persisted Geoffrey, appealing to the two choral gentlemen in the back-ground, with his temper fast rising to fever heat.
The two choral gentlemen compared notes, as usual.