"
That is why Gus was received in his own room by the fellow who had so
lately knocked him down. Gus stared at Jim, his swollen lip trembling
with anger and his eyes blazing with indignation.
"I say, Gus, old man, I am an utter out-and-out cad, and I've come to
apologize."
Gus murmured something indistinctly.
"When I knocked you down I did the most blackguardly thing that even I
have ever done, and, you may believe me or not, I am now about disgusted
with myself. I felt that there was only one thing that I could do, and
that was to apologize."
Jim was so obviously cut up by remorse that Gus thereupon buried the
hatchet. He did not throw the poker at Jim's head, and you may be
surprised to hear--or you may not--that Gus and Jim Cotton took their
after-dinner coffee at Hooper's, as in the old time. The conversation
was _staccato_ at first, but interesting.
"But who sent the order?" said Gus.
"Dunno, really; but I could almost bet my boots that Taylor is the
criminal."
"Taylor! What does he know of my affairs?"
"Well, that beastly house list with your red raw agony column made him
most suspicious, and I believe he knows to a hair exactly how big a cad
I've been."
"Go on, old man; leave that."
"He sucked Philips dry about the Penfold tombstone, and although he said
nothing to me personally, Philips gave me to understand that I'm not in
favour with the parson. Taylor is the man who's provided your sub. for
the Penfold, take my word for it.
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