hand--it was to be on the next day--and he was celebrati

e paid, while also obtaining loans from more than one of them on the strength of his forthcoming wedding with an heiress. One thing, however, he had carefully kept quiet, namely, the information as to who and what his heiress was, and where she came from. And it was well, indeed, that he had obtained these loans, since his already lean purse had suffered considerably

and to explain why she could not convoy him to Cowley Street; "five 'undred guineas to come to me, in a day or so now, and you won't give me a p

er to break off this marriage and to keep the "sweet young thing" out of his way, she had gained her obj

Pottle!" Though, even as he made the remark, he told himself that each of these handfuls of guineas was in truth

at ain't royal. Howsomdever, if it must be, it must." After which she shuf

ast; and also because I have been ailing. Ay! in very truth almost have I been dead, owing to a terrible scene which arose betwixt me and one other, the man whom you attacked so nobly, as I have since heard, in the avenue; for, my beloved, that man desired my hand, you must know--he was unlike you, my unselfish hero! and was a fortune-hunter, and his reproaches were terrible when he learnt that we had met. But now he is

e astute Mrs. Pottle; the lovers had met, and planned all; now, to-mor

is to be. My friends," he said, addressing two or three dissolute-looking young men, all fashionably dressed, who also sat, or rather lolled, at the repa

s is the plan: We wed to-morrow at Keith's Chapel, in May Fair, at eleven. I would that it had been earlier, but Keith's clerk says his reverenc

ff the effects of the present night much before the hour that had been mentioned. "Why, I protest, 'twa

d Granger. "We are noth

, "are you very sure that thus you will be by law unite

ficate. But even were it not so," and now Beau Bufton bestowed that smile of his upon his guests which always caused Granger's gall to rise, "the ceremony may serve, illegal though it should be; for if it is so, at least it will have

uring the present conversation, and causing his exclamation to be heard above the shrill peal of nervous l

ing himself a little nervous, the company thought, "or else I have ca

ure bride is. One who is the owner of Fanshawe Manor

ckle. "'Tis she. And Dallas, my dear, I have won h

tered. "In solemn truth, I thought so. So, too, tho

ion, and now seemed very desirous of putting an end to it; "while as for bravery--well! ask t

sword, to--in fine--chastise him," Bufton said. "I w

! Him! Geoffrey Barry! The county, to which I

considered his choicest tone of cont

e hard to convince all who know either Sir Geoffrey Barry or Ariadne Thorne that such things could be." After which he became strangely silent, the more so, perhaps, because now Lewis Granger bestirre

the hour of two, when Granger, who all through the evening had performed

we all take part to-morrow. Let us not, therefore, sit up toping until daybreak, now close at hand. Remember, there is a little feast at the Hercules Pillars dire

indeed, have become sober, or, at least, grave and thoughtful, during the last hour. "There is not a man under thre

any pleasant dreams, and cautioning him jokingly not to oversleep himself in the

but he, "now get you to bed, and be ready betimes to-morro

t I should carouse away my chance of a fortune and an estate when it is in my gr

the time when these," and he pointed to the half or three-quarter drained flasks of Tokay and champagne which stood about the table, "would have b

th being sober! Have I not also something to induce me to sobriety? Your marriage means much to

s?" said the Beau, in

Gad! you see everything. You

so. Anyway, I have brought m

ht. I shall be with you to-morrow to breakfast earl

or chair; but, seeing none, walked fast up the Haymarket until he came to a night house which was still open, and in which were still many dissolute people of both sexes, drinking and carousing. Then he called for a dram, and ordering the woman who was waiting to bri

hall need you to take me to King Street, Cove

ng) would allow, and eventually they reached Park Place, whereon, alighting, Lewis Granger walked down the narrow street regardless of the drizzle, until he stood before No. 13

, "that should do his business, and prevent him from interrupting us t

d, more disposed towards meditation and reflection than aught else; while, as food for such reflection, two pieces of paper which he drew from his pocket appeared to furnish it since he regarded them long and steadily. Each was a bill properly drawn and accepted, yet unlike.

are useless; you will never be paid. Nevertheless, I will keep you--

himself, and continued to do so u