If Trevor chooses to set Dalison at defiance, and
Dalison is determined to thrash Trev9r, we can't
help it."

" Well, I don't quite agree with you there,** said
Stapleton. " I shall make another attempt, though
altogether of a different character. I shan't meddle
with Sahib again, I promise you. By the bye, I
wonder what he could have meant by saying that
Dalison would get the worst of it."



AN UGLY VISITOB. 113

"He meant nothing, I expect," said Bracldey,
" except that he was in a great rage with Dalison, and
wanted to pay him out if he conld. But what do
you mean to try, Billy, yourself?"

*' Well," said Stapleton, « I shall try to get Hiems
to ask Frank to tea that evening. I tlunk I could
manage that. And it will not much signify, you
know, whether Dalison and Joyce persist in making
young Johnstone do what they want, so long as
iVank isn't there to interfere. I must confess I
shouldn't be over sorry, after what we have heard, if
that young savage did get a good licking, provided
Frank didn't suffer by it"

" Nor I," said Brackley, and Bivers likewise sub-
scribing to the same sentiment, Billy proceeded with
his usual astuteness to put his scheme into operation.
