my Lord," said the servant, in a low tone, after gently opening the door.

"Show him in," said the Duke, rather nervously, adding to the Earl, in a hurried whisper,-"now be calm, my dear Dreddlington-be calm-it will be over in a few minutes' time." The Earl's lips quivered a little, his thin white hands trembled, and his eyes were directed to the door with a look of most mournful apprehension, as the fiend entered. Mr Gammon was pale, and evidently nervous and excited; but his habitual self-command would have concealed it from any but a practised observer. What a glance was that with which he first saw the Earl!" It gives me deep concern, my lord," said he, in a low tone, slowly advancing with an air of profound deference and sympathy, "to see that you have been so great a sufferer!"

"Will you take a chair, sir?" said the Duke, pointing to one which the servant had brought for him, and in which Gammon sat down, with a courteous inclination towards the Duke; and observing that Lord Dreddlington's face had become suddenly flushed, while his lips moved as if he were speaking, "You see," said his Grace, "that my Lord Dreddlington is but slowly recovering!"-Gammon sighed, and gazed at the Earl with an expression of infinite concern.

"Is it true, sir?" enquired the Earl, after a moment's interval of silence, evidently with a desperate effort. Gammon felt both of his companions eyeing him intently, as he answered calmly- "Alas! your lordship of course alludes to that unhappy com pany

"Is it true, sir?" repeated the Earl, altogether disregarding Gammon's attempt at evasion.

"You cannot but be aware, Mr Gammon, of the subject to which my Lord Dreddlington is alluding "-said the Duke, in a low tone.

"Oh!" exclaimed Gammon, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, and a sigh "I understand that your lordship is alluding to some conversation which you suppose has passed between us concerning Mr Titmouse.'

"Sir-sir-yes! yes "-gasped the Earl, gazing at him intently.

"Well, my lord, I have heard that you suppose I told your lordship that he was illegitimate."

"Ay," said the Earl, with tremulous eagerness.

"Oh, my lord, you are really labouring under as complete a delusion as ever "-commenced Gammon, with a melancholy smile.

"Sir-Mr Gammon-do you believe that there is NO GOD?-that HE does not know the-the "-interrupted the Earl, but ceased, apparently overpowered by his emotions. Gammon looked in appealing silence at the Duke.

"What makes you imagine, sir, that I am bereft of reason and memory?" presently enquired the Earl, with a strength of voice and manner which alarmed Gammon.

"I cannot account, my lord, for the extraordinary hallucination which seems "

"And I suppose, sir, I am also in a delusion concerning the rent-charge for two thousand a-year, which you have got on the Yatton pro—"

"Oh, pardon-pardon me, my lord! All pure-absolute delusion!" interrupted Gammon, with a confident smile, a look, and a tone of voice, that would have staggered the most incredulous.

The Earl raised his thin, white, trembling hand, and pressed it against his forehead for a moment; and then said, turning to the Duke-"He would deny that he is now in our presence!"

"My dear Dreddlington-don't, for God's sake, excite yourself," said the Duke, anxiously; adding, after a pause, "I am as persuaded, as I am of my existence, that you're under a complete delusion! Recollect your serious illness-every one is subject to delusions of some sort or other when he's been so ill as you have!"

"Oh, Tantallan! Tantallan !"— replied the Earl, mournfully shaking his head-"I take God to witness how this man is lying!" The Duke glanced hastily at Gammon as these words were uttered, and observed that he had gone suddenly pale, and was in the act of rising from his chair.

"Pray, Mr Gammon"-commenced the Duke, imploringly.

"I can make very great allowance, I assure your Grace, for his lordship's situation-but there are bounds which I will allow no man living to overstep with impunity," said Gammon, calmly but resolutely-overjoyed at obtaining such a pretext for abruptly terminat

ing the embarrassing interview-" and unless his lordship chooses instantly to retract what he has said, and apologise for it, I will never enter his presence again!"

"Oh-he had better go!" said the Earl feebly, addressing the Duke, evidently averting his face from Gammon with disgust and horror.

"Mr Gammon, pray resume your seat," said the Duke significantly-"I will undertake to warrant you in regarding the words as not having been spoken."

"I thank your Grace," replied Gammon determinately" I require an explicit retractation. Ientertain a deep deference towards your Grace, but am also aware of what is due to myself. My lord," he added, as if at a sudden impulse, addressing the Earl, "do permit me to request your lordship to withdraw and apologise for"-But the Earl turned his face aside, and extended his hand towards Gammon, feebly motioning him away; on which, with a low bow to the Duke of Tantallan, Gammon took his hat and moved towards the door.

"Sir-Mr Gammon-you must not go," said the Duke earnestly-" you are here on business of pressing importance-all this must pass away and be forgotten."

"Your Grace I shall be most happy to attend at any time, and any where; but this room I quit instantly." Ι

"Then, sir, have the goodness to walk into the next room," said the Duke, somewhat imperiously, "and I will come to you presently." Mr Gammon bowed, and withdrew.

"Oh God! how atrocious is the conduct of that man!" said the Earl, when they were left alone.

"Really, Dreddlington, you must get rid of these-these-absurd notions."

"Let me never see his face again!" replied the Earl, feebly. "I have but a short time to live, and that time the sight of him, I feel, makes still shorter!" the Duke looked both vexed and embarrassed.

"Come, come-now he's here, and on a very important errand-let us have done with him. Let us have him back, and I'll tell him you withdraw"

"Withdraw? He is withdrawn," said the Earl, confusedly.

VOL. L. NO. CCCIX.

"What d'ye mean, my dear Dreddlington? I say-let me tell him "

"I mean, it was at his chambers, in Holborn-I pledge my honour, I recollect it as if it were yester".

"Pho, pho!" cried the Duke, rather impatiently-" it must be done! He's come on matters of the very last importance the thing's been put off to the very latest moment on your account

that cursed Company !" The Earl looked up at his companion, and a faint smile flitted over his wasted features.

"Ah-I'm now satisfied," said he, shaking his head-"that they must dig a very great depth indeed before they come to the copper." The Duke looked puzzled, but said, hastily, "That's right!-I'll have him back, and you'll allow me to say it's all a mistake?"

"Certainly-I am satisfied of it." "That will do, my dear Dreddlington, that's the way such nonsense should be put an end to," said the Duke, and, ringing the bell, ordered the servant to request Mr Gammon to return. After a brief interval, that gentleman re-entered the library, but with some sternness and reluctance of

manner.

"Mr Gammon," replied the Duke a little quickly, "my Lord Dreddlington owns he was mistaken-he, of course, withdraws the expression-so we had better at once to business"

"Ay-certainly! certainly! Have you the papers with you, Mr Gammon?" enquired the Earl, while his trembling fingers were on his gold spectacles. Mr Gammon bowed rather haughtily, and, resuming the chair he had quitted, drew it to the table, and opened a little packet of papers.

"It was a ridiculous affair, I am afraid, sir," said the Earl addressing Mr Gammon, who felt little surprised at the altered look and tone of the Earl.

"I fear it was extremely unfortunate, my lord, in its issue," he replied gravely, arranging his papers.

"The thing did not look so absurd at first, Tantallan, I assure you!" said the Earl, addressing the Duke, who was eyeing Mr Gammon's movements with much anxiety; for he had come prepared to state the final result of long negotiations between the creditors and the directors and share

G

holders of the Artificial Rain Company.

"These things never do-at first," his Grace replied, with a sort of igh. "Just show us, Mr Gammon, if you please, the diagrams and the sections of the strata"

"The what?" enquired the Duke, turning surprisedly to the Earl-so did Mr Gammon, and for a moment ceased arranging his papers. Both the Duke and he turned pale, and gazed in silent dismay at their companion. Gammon felt momentarily sick at heart. It was evident that Lord Dreddlington's mind had gently given way. There was a smile of indescribable weakness flickering about the mouth; the eyes were unsteady; all sternness had vanished from his brow; and his manner was calm, with even an approach towards cheerfulness. Gammon glanced with horror at the Duke, who, without removing his eyes from Lord Dreddlington, unconsciously exclaimed, "Oh my God!"

"Is it your Lordship's pleasure "faltered Gammon, his hands trembling visibly.

"You are right, Tantallan," said Lord Dreddlington, as if suddenly struck by the peculiar look with which the Duke continued to regard him. "You shall hear all; but we must be alone. Sir, you may retire, and be in attendance another day," he added, abruptly addressing Gammon with all his former stateliness of manner, but with a feeble voice. Mr Gammon, very greatly agitated, hastily put together the documents he had partially arranged on the table, and with a profound bow withdrew.

"At nine this evening-in Portman Square, sir, if you please," said the Duke in an agitated manner.

"I will attend your Grace," said Gammon, and with not a little trepidation closed the door after him; on which the Earl proceeded, in a very anxious manner, to intimate the existence of a conspiracy on the part of the Earl of Fitzclaret and others, to prevent his-Lord Dreddlington's-obtaining a marquisite, on the ground that he had been connected with Sir Sharper Bubble in a swindling com pany; and his lordship had good grounds for believing that Mr Gammon was secretly lending his assist

ance to the undertaking, and his coming there that morning with the papers relating to the intended purchase of the Isle of Dogs, was in furtherance of his treacherous objects! The Duke listened in silent dismay to this rambling account of the imaginary conspiracy, and had just determined upon quietly sending for Miss Macspleuchan, when the Earl abruptly paused, and after a confused stare at his companion, pressed his band to his forehead, and said with hesitation and embarrasment "Pray, Tantallan, don't think any thing more about what I have been saying! I-I-feel that I have been talking nonsense - incoherently. — Surely it must have struck you so? Eh, Tantallan ?"

There was something so imbecile and miserable in the look with which the Earl regarded his companion, that the Duke for a moment could not reply to him. At length," My dear Dred. dlington," said he, gently grasping his hand, "you are, at present, only a little excited-you will soon recover yourself. Let us ask Miss Macspleuchan to join us, as she is sitting all alone up stairs."

"Not just now, Tantallan-I feel I have wandered a little, but all is now right again. He is gone, is he?" The duke nodded. "The sight of that man was at first too much for me; I felt oppressed and confused, but I thought it right to struggle against it!-He denied it all?-Is not that enough to drive a man out of his senses?"

"My dear Dreddlington, we shall get wrong again-let us quit the subject," said the Duke, anxiously.

"No," replied the Earl, languidly, "do not fear me; I feel quite myself again! I can only repeat to you, that that man's conversation with me about -about"-he shuddered "as certainly happened, as the heavens are above us!" The Earl had really, at all events for the present, recovered from the temporary confusion into which his thoughts had fallen; and proceeded, with as much energy as his shattered condition would admit of, to give the Duke, as he had often done before, a distinct and consistent account of all that had taken place at Mr Gammon's chambers:- and as he went on it all of a sudden occurred to his Grace, for the first time-how improbable is it that Lord Dreddlington

should have invented a scene, which he has uniformly described in almost the same words? What but truth and reality could enable him to preserve such a consistency in a scene described with such a minute circumstantiality? Having once looked at the matter in this new light, every succeeding moment saw him more and more satisfied that such was the true view of it; and before he had quitted his unfortunate kinsman, he had pretty nearly convinced himself of three things; first, that Mr Titmouse was a hideous, little, base-born miscreant and impostor; secondly, that Mr Gammon must be the profoundest scoundrel living; and lastly, that it was very singular that he-the Duke-had been so long in arriving at such a conclusion. But then, it subsequently occurred to the sagacious Duke,-how was he to act? What position was he to assume with Mr Gammon, when he came in the evening, in obedience to his Grace's own appointment? What reasons could he assign for his sudden change of opinion? Nothing new had occurred: and he felt a little embarrassed, seeing that all he should be able to say, would be, that he had at length taken a different view of the facts! At all events, he determined to put the brief of Mr Titmouse's case, used at the trials, and which Mr Gammon had some time before forwarded to his Grace's house, into the hands of some eminent lawyer, for a candid and confidential opinion.

Mr Gammon, on quitting Lord Dreddlington's house, quickly recovered from the momentary shock which he had suffered in the Earl's presence; and-shall I record the fact?-all other feelings were merged in one of delight and exultation at the awful calamity which had befallen Lord Dreddlington: no one, Mr Gammon considered, would thenceforth think of attaching the least importance to any thing the Earl might say, or had said, which was doubtless the mere creation of a disordered brain. Then all that would be necessary, would be the silencing Titmouse-no difficult matter, since even he could comprehend that secrecy was to him a matter of salvation or destruction! But then, again, like a criminal's chance glance at the hideous guillotine in the distance-a recollection of the ecclesiastical enquiry at that in

stant in vigorous action, blanched the cheek of Mr Gammon, and dashed all his new hopes to the ground. If those infernal inquisitors should discover all, and thereby demonstrate Titmouse's illegitimacy, how perfectly frightful would be the position of Mr Gammon? What would then avail him the insanity of Lord Dreddlington? Would it not, on the contrary, be then attributed to the right cause-the atrocious cruelty and villany which had been practised upon him? How irretrievably was Gammon committed by his repeated and solemn asseverations to Miss Macspleuchan and the Earl of Dreddlington? The evidence which sufficed to entitle Mr Aubrey to administer to Lady Stratton, would also suffice to entitle him to an immediate restoration to the Yatton property! And would the matter rest there? Would no steps be taken, in such an event, to fix him -Gammon-as a partner, or a prime mover, in the fraud and conspiracy by which alone, it would then be alleged, Titmouse had been enabled to recover the property? Absorbed by these pleasant contemplations, he was so lost to all around him, that he was within an ace of being crushed to death under the wheels of an enormous coal-waggon, which he had not seen approaching, as he crossed the street. It might, perhaps, have been well it would certainly have saved him from a 46 sea of troubles," on which he may be tossed for the remainder of his life.

The chief object of Mr Gammon's interview with the Earl of Dreddlington, had been to communicate to his lordship information concerning the very alarming position in which he stood with reference to the defunct Artificial Rain Company. The very prominent and active part which his lordship had been seduced into taking, in the patronage and management of that Company, had very reasonably marked him out as the fittest object of attack to the creditors. The Company held no Act of Parliament, nor charter, nor deed of settlement; it was simply a huge unwieldy partnership, consisting of all such persons as could be shown to be interested, or to have held themselves out as interested, in it; and consequently, whether individually known or not, liable to the public, who had dealt with the Com

pany, and given credit to it, on the very obvious principle of equity, that all who would seek to share the profits of the speculation must be responsible for its liabilities. In the present instance, had it not been for the circumstance of there being a considerable number of weak, inexperienced, but responsible adventurers, who, by entering into the speculation, had become liable to share Lord Dreddlington's burden of liability, his lordship must have been totally ruined to all intents and purposes. As soon as Sir Sharper Bubble's absconding had opened the eyes of the public, and of the shareholders, it became necessary to take instant measures for ascertaining the exact state of affairs, and the liabilities which had been contracted on behalf of the Company. Heavens! what a frightful array of creditors now made their appearance against the Artificial Rain Company! It was inconceivable how so many, and to so immense an amount, could have arisen during the short period of the Company's being in existence; but the fact is, that there are always thousands of persons who, as soon as they once see individuals of undoubted responsibility fairly committed to a Company of this sort, will give almost unlimited credit, and supply any thing that may be ordered on behalf or for the purposes of the Company. This Company had originated in a supposed grand discovery of Doctor Diabolus Gander, that there were certain modes of operating upon the atmosphere, by means of electrical agency, which would ensure an abundant supply of rain in seasons of the greatest drought. Now, first and foremost among the creditors of the Company, was that distinguished philosopher himself; who, to constitute himself effectually a creditor, had declined to take any shares in the concern. He now claimed £1700 for a series of "preliminary experiments," independently of compensation for his time and services in conducting the aforesaid experiments ;-and, in order to put the question of liability beyond all doubt, the doctor had taken care, from time to time, to invite the more distinguished and wealthy of the share. holders to come and witness his experiments-always carefully noting down their names, and the names also of those witnesses who could prove their attendance the interest they took in

the experiments-their observations as to the success of the Company, &c. &c., and their repeated acknowledgments of the uniform courtesy of the worthy doctor, who thought no pains too great to explain the nature of his surprising operations. Then, again, he had entered into an agreement, signed by Lord Dreddlington, and one or two others on behalf of the Company, by which he was appointed "permanent scientific director" for a period of ten years, at a salary of £1000 a-year, over and above the sums agreed to be paid him for "collateral and supplementary services." This latter clause, however, the doctor very generously offered to compromise, in consideration of the exhalation of the Company, on payment of four thousand pounds down. Then came a demand amounting to little short of £25,000 for an inconceivable quantity of copper wire, which had been purchased for the purpose of being used in all the cities and towns which chose to avail themselves of the services of the Company, in the following way-viz. a complete circle of electric communication was to be obtained, by attaching wires to the summits of all the church steeples, and it was necessary that the wires should be of considerable strength and thickness, to prevent their being broken by birds flying against, and perching upon them: (But, Dr Gander declared that he had discovered a mode of charging the wires, which would cause any bird which came into contact with them immediately to fall down dead.) Then there were fearful charges for at least `nine miles' length of leaden pipes and hose, and for steam-engines, and electrical machines, and so forth; particularly an item of eight thousand pounds for the expenses of trying the experiment in a village in the extremity of Cornwall, and which was very nearly completed, when the unfortunate event occurred which occasioned the sudden break-up of the Company. This will suffice to give the uninitiated reader a glimpse of the real nature of the liabilities incurred by those who had become partners in this splendid undertaking. Dr Gander had two actions commenced the very day after the departure of Sir Sharper Bubble, against six of the principal shareholders, in respect of his "preliminary experiments," and his agreement for ten years' service; and writs came