Part 33 (1/2)

”Crest and motto, and your t.i.tle--Comte des Vignes. You might lose it, and then people would know where to take it.”

”Don't chaff a fellow, uncle,” said Harry, colouring. ”Here, we may come and sit down, mayn't we?”

”Oh, certainly, if your friend will condescend to take a seat in my homely place.”

”Only too happy, Mr Luke Vine.”

”Are you now? Shouldn't have thought it,” sneered the old man. ”No wine to offer you, sir; no brandy and soda; that's the stuff young men drink now, isn't it?”

”Don't name it, my dear sir; don't name it,” said Pradelle, with an attempt at heartiness that made the old man half close his eyes. ”Harry and I only came up for a stroll. Besides, we've just dined.”

”Have you? That's a good job, because I've only a bit of conger in the house, and that isn't cooked. Come in and sit down, sir. You, Harry, you'll have to sit down on that old oak chest.”

”Anywhere will do for me, uncle. May we smoke?”

”Oh, yes, as fast as you like; it's too slow a poison for you to die up here.”

”Hope so,” said Harry, whose mission and the climb had made him very warm.

”Now, then,” said Uncle Luke, fixing his eyes on Pradelle--like gimlets, as that gentleman observed on the way back; ”what is it?”

”Eh? I beg pardon; the business here is Harry's.”

”Be fair, Vic,” said Harry, shortly; ”the business appertains to both.”

”Does it really,” said Uncle Luke, with a mock display of interest.

”Yes, uncle,” said the nephew, uneasily, as he sat twiddling the gold locket attached to his chain, and his voice sounded husky; ”it relates to both.”

”Really!” said Uncle Luke, with provoking solemnity, as he looked from one to the other. ”Well, I was young myself once. Now, look here; can I make a shrewd guess at what you want!”

”I'll be bound to say you could, sir,” said Pradelle, in despite of an angry look from Harry, who knew his uncle better, and foresaw a trap.

”Then I'll guess,” said the old man, smiling pleasantly; ”you want some money.”

”Yes, uncle, you're right,” said Harry, as cautiously as a fencer preparing for a thrust from an expert handler of the foils.

”Hah! I thought I was. Well, young men always were so. Want a little money to spend, eh?”

”Well, uncle, I--”

”Wait a minute, my boy,” said the old man, seriously; ”let me see. I don't want to disappoint you and your friend as you've come all this way. Your father wouldn't let you have any, I suppose?”

”Haven't asked him, sir.”

”That's right, Harry,” said the old man, earnestly; ”don't, my boy, don't. George always was close with his money. Well, I'll see what I can do. How much do you want to spend--a s.h.i.+lling?”

”Hang it all, uncle!” cried Harry angrily, and nearly tearing off his locket, ”don't talk to me as if I were a little boy. I want a hundred pounds.”

”Yes, sir, a hundred pounds,” said Pradelle.