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"No! certainly not: I refer you at once to Sir Charles."

"Aye, but that is a most extraordinary reference."

"This proceeding appears to me to be extraordinary altogether. I refer you to him: consult him, and I will at that consultation be present."

"That I apprehend, sir, would not be quite safe."

"Not safe? Why not? What have I to fear? conscious as I am of my own integrity. I will meet him with all the confidence truth can inspire, and I feel that my presence will induce the conviction that he has been mistaken."

"Sylvester," calmly interposed Mr. Scholefield; "allow me to suggest that you had better depute me to see Sir Charles, and explain to him the feelings to which you have given such earnest expression."

"Mr. Scholefield," returned Sylvester; "I have, as I believe you are aware, been always anxious to adopt any suggestion of yours; but I submit—this being a matter of professional life or death to me—that I ought to see Sir Charles, and explain to him myself that he is labouring under a most serious mistake."

"Well," replied Mr. Scholefield; "I can have no objection to your seeing him."

"I fear," observed Sir William, "that he is not now in a fit state to view the matter calmly."

"I am sure," said Sylvester, "that when Sir Charles sees me, he will be at once satisfied that I am not the man."

"Well," said Sir William, who really began to think that Sir Charles must have been mistaken, "if that be the case, why by all means come with me. Mr. Scholefield, perhaps, will accompany us?"

"I will do so with pleasure," replied Mr. Scholefield; and without loss of time they left Sylvester's chambers, and proceeded to the house of Sir Charles.

"Now," said Sir William, on their arrival, "I think that Mr. Scholefield and I had better go up first, and soothe Sir Charles—if possible."

Sylvester did not object to this, and they accordingly left him in one of the parlours; but the moment they had explained to Sir Charles that Sylvester solemnly denied the accusation, and that he had come expressly to deny it in person, Sir Charles rushed below, entered the room in which Sylvester had been left, and seizing him by the throat, would have strangled him but for the prompt interference of Mr. Scholefield, who suspecting his object, had followed him on the instant.

"Mean, base, cowardly, contemptible liar!" exclaimed Sir Charles, absolutely foaming with rage. "If you have not the courage to fight with me, I'll ruin you—ruin you—ruin you for ever!"

"I'll not be thus insulted with impunity," cried Sylvester. "The accusation is false."

"What!" exclaimed Sir Charles, seizing the poker on the instant—"what!"

Sylvester was about to confront him, when Mr. Scholefield hurried him from the room, and when he had given his card to Sir William, with the name of Mr. Scholefield as his friend, he left the house, solemnly and most indignantly declaring his innocence of the charge.