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252 laughing while they argued and quarrelled, and that Letty wore a very sweet smile when once or twice the Colonel was unhorsed in the discussion. From politics they fell into talk about Mr. Romaine, and in the midst of it a tap came at the door, and Madame de Fonblanque entered.

"We were again discussing our eccentric friend Romaine, Madame," said the Colonel, anxious lest Madame de Fonblanque should suppose that her arrival was an interruption. "Mr. Farebrother seems to take a more indulgent view of him than any of us do."

"For my part," answered Madame de Fonblanque, with a gesture of aversion, "I do not hesitate to say that I dislike Mr. Romaine very much. I cannot deny that he is a gentleman—"

"Technically, my dear madam—technically—"

"—But I believe, if he were to die to-morrow, he would not leave behind him one heart to ache for him."

Just then the door opened, and Dad Davy presented a solemn, scared face.

"Marse Colonel," he said, "dee done sont dat white man, Dodson, f'um Shrewsbury, an'