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172 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
him, sir—brandy killed him ! Why, this is some of your governor's
wine ! He and I have been drinking it to-night in Parr Street,
and talking over old times."
"I am glad, sir, you found the wine to your taste," says
Philip gravely.
" I did, Philip my boy ! And when your father said he was
coming to your wine, I said I'd come too."
" I wish somebody would fling him out of window," groaned
Philip.
"A most potent, grave, and reverend senior," whispered
Rosebury to me. "I read billiards, Boulogne, gambling-houses
in his noble lineaments. Has he long adorned your family
circle, Firmin ?"
"I found him at home about a month ago, in my father's
anteroom, in the same clothes, with a pair of mangy moustaches
on his face ; and he has been at our house every day since."
" Echappé de Toulon," says Rosebury blandly, looking towards
the stranger. " Cela se voit. Homme parfaitement distingué.
Y6u are quite right, sir. I was speaking of you ; and asking
our friend Philip where it was I had the honour of meeting you
abroad last year] This courtesy," he gently added, "will disarm
tigers."
" I was abroad, sir, last year," said the other, nodding his head.
" Three to one he was in Boulogne gaol, or perhaps officiating
chaplain at a gambling-house. Stop, I have it ? Baden Baden,
sir?"
"I was there, safe enough," says the clergyman. "It is a
very pretty place ; but the air of the Après kills you. Ha ! ha !
Your father used to shake his elbow when he was a youngster
too, Philip ! I can't help calling you Philip. I have known your
father these thirty years. We were college chums, you know."
" Ah! what would I give," sighs Rosebury, "if that venerable
being would but address me by my Christian name ! Philip, do
something to make your party go. The old gentlemen are throttling
it. Sing something, somebody ! or let us drown our melancholy
in wine. You expressed your approbation of this claret,
sir, and claimed a previous acquaintance with it ?"
"I've drunk two dozen of it in the last month," says Mr.
Hunt, with a grin.
" Two dozen and four, sir," remarks Mr. Brice, putting a fresh
bottle on the table.
" Well said, Brice! I make the Firmin Arms my headquarters ;
and honour the landlord with a good deal of my company," remarks
Mr. Hunt.