But, as no such Elysium was opened to him,
the major went on accepting the smaller profits and the harder work of
club life. In what regiment he had been a major no one knew or cared to
inquire. He had been received as Major Moody for twenty years or more,
and twenty years is surely time enough to settle a man's claim to a
majority without reference to the Army List.
"How are you, Major Moody?" asked Mountjoy.
"Not much to boast of. I hope you're pretty well, Captain Scarborough."
Beyond that there was no word of salutation, and no reference to
Mountjoy's wonderful absence.
"What's it to be:--twos and tens?" said Captain Vignolles, arranging the
cards and the chairs.
"Not for me," said Mountjoy, who seemed to have been enveloped by a most
unusual prudence.
"What! are you afraid,--you who used to fear neither man nor devil?"
"There is so much in not being accustomed to it," said Mountjoy. "I
haven't played a game of whist since I don't knew when."
"Twos and tens is heavy against dummy," said Major Moody.
"I'll take dummy, if you like it," said Vignolles. Moody only looked at
him.
"We'll each have our own dummy, of course," said Mountjoy.
"Just as you please," said Vignolles. "I'm host here, and of course will
give way to anything you may propose.
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