CHAPTER III.

The injuries which Titmouse had received in his encounter with the

waterman--I mean principally his black eye--prevented him from making

his appearance in public, or at Lord Dreddlington's, or in the House,

for several days after he had recovered from the bilious attack of which

I have spoken. His non-attendance at the House, however, signified

little, since both parties had been so thoroughly exhausted by their

late trial of strength, as to require for some time rest and quietness,

to enable them to resume the public business of the country. As soon as

his eye was fairly convalescent, the first place to which he ventured

out was his new residence in Park Lane, which having been taken for him,

under the superintendence of the Earl of Dreddlington and Mr. Gammon,

some month or two before, was now rapidly being furnished, in order to

be in readiness to receive his lady and himself, immediately after his

marriage--his Parliamentary duties not admitting of a prolonged absence

from town. The former event had, as usual, been already prematurely

announced in the newspapers several times as on the eve of taking place.

The courtship went on very easily and smoothly. Neither of them seemed

_anxious_ for the other's society, though they contrived to evince, in

the presence of others, a decent degree of gratification at meeting each

other. He did all which he was instructed it was necessary for a man of

fashion to do. He attended her and the earl to the opera repeatedly, as

also to other places of fashionable resort: he had danced with her

occasionally; but, to tell the truth, it was only at the vehement

instance of the earl her father, that she ever consented to stand up

with one whose person, whose carriage, whose motions were so unutterably

vulgar and ridiculous as those of Mr. Titmouse, who was yet her

affianced husband. He had made her several times rather expensive

presents of jewelry, and would have purchased for her a great stock of

clothing, (of which he justly considered himself an excellent judge,) if

she would have permitted it. He had, moreover, been a constant guest at

the earl's table, where he was under greater restraint than anywhere

else. Of such indiscretions and eccentricities as I have just been

recording, they knew, or were properly _supposed_ to know, nothing. 'T

was not for them to have their eyes upon him while sowing his wild

oats--so thought the earl; who, however, had frequent occasion for

congratulating himself in respect of Mr. Titmouse's political celebrity,

and also of the marks of distinction conferred upon him in the literary

and scientific world, of which the earl was himself so distinguished an

ornament. Titmouse had presented copies, gorgeously bound, of Dr.

Gander's Treatise on Lightness, both to the earl and the Lady Cecilia;

and the very flattering _dedication_ to Titmouse, by Dr. Gander, really

operated not a little in his favor with his future lady. What effect

might have been produced upon her Ladyship, had she been apprised of the

fact, that the aforesaid dedication had appeared in only a hundred

copies, having been cancelled directly Dr. Gander had ascertained the

futility of his expectations from Titmouse, I do not know; but I believe

she never was informed of that circumstance. As far as his dress went,

she had contrived, through the interference of the earl and of Mr.

Gammon, (for whom she had conceived a singular respect,) to abate a

_little_ of its fantastic absurdity, its execrable vulgarity. Nothing,

however, seemed capable of effecting any material change in _the man_,

although his continued intercourse with refined society could hardly

fail to produce _some_ advantageous alteration in his _manners_. As for

anything further, Tittlebat Titmouse remained the same vulgar,

heartless, presumptuous, ignorant creature he had ever been. Though I

perceive in the Lady Cecilia no qualities to excite our respect or

affection, I pity her from my very soul when I contemplate her coming

union with Titmouse. One thing I know, that as soon as ever she had

bound herself irrevocably to him, she began to think of at least fifty

men whom she had ever spurned, but whom _now_ she would have welcomed

with all the ardor and affection of which her cold nature was

susceptible. As she had never been _conspicuous_ for animation,

vivacity, or energy, the gloom which more and more frequently

overshadowed her, whenever her thoughts turned towards Titmouse,

attracted scarce any one's attention. There _were_ those, however, who

could have spoken of her mental disquietude at the approach of her

cheerless nuptials--I mean her maid Annette and Miss Macspleuchan. To

say that she _loathed_ the bare idea of her union with Titmouse--of his

person, manners, and character--would not perhaps be exactly correct,

since she had not the requisite strength of character; but she

contemplated her future lord with mingled feelings of apprehension,

dislike, and disgust. She generally fled for support to the comfortable

notion of "_fate_," which had assigned her such a husband. Heaven had

denied poor Lady Cecilia all power of contemplating the future; of

anticipating consequences; of _reflecting_ upon the step she was about

to take. Miss Macspleuchan, however, did so for her; but, being placed

in a situation of great delicacy and difficulty, acted with cautious

reserve whenever the subject was mentioned. Lady Cecilia had not

vouchsafed to consult her before her Ladyship had finally committed

herself to Titmouse; and, after that, interference was useless and

unwarrantable.

Lady Cecilia late one afternoon entered her dressing-room pale and

dispirited, as had been latterly her wont; and, with a deep sigh, sank

into her easy-chair. Annette, on her Ladyship's entrance, was leaning

against the window frame, reading a book, which she immediately closed

and laid down. "What are you reading there?" inquired Lady Cecilia,

languidly.

"Oh, nothing particular, my Lady!" replied Annette, coloring a little;

"it was only the prayer-book. I was looking at the marriage-service, my

Lady. I wanted to see what it was that your Ladyship has to say"----

"It's not very amusing, Annette. _I_ think it very dull and stupid--and

you might have been better employed!"

"La, my Lady--now _I_ should have thought it quite interesting, if _I_

had been in your La'ship's situation!"

"Well, what is it that they expect me to repeat?"

"Oh! I'll read it, my Lady--here it is," replied Annette, and read as

follows:--

"_Then shall the priest say unto the woman_, 'N, wilt thou have

this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together, after God's

ordinance, in the holy state of matrimony? Wilt thou obey

him, serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in

health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so

long as ye both shall live?'

"_The woman shall answer_, 'I will.'"

"Well--it's only a form, you know, Annette--and I dare say no one ever

gives it a thought," said Lady Cecilia, struggling to suppress a sigh.

"Then," continued Annette, "your La'ship will have to say a good deal

after the parson--but I beg your La'ship's pardon--it's (in your case)

the bishop. Here it is:

"'I, N, take thee, M, to be my wedded husband, to have and

to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer

for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish'"----

"Yes, yes--I hear," interrupted Lady Cecilia, faintly, turning pale; "I

know it all; that will do, Annette"--

"There's only a word more, my Lady:--

"'And obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy

ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.'

"All this your La'ship says, with your right hand holding Mr.

Titmouse's."

Here a visible tremor passed through Lady Cecilia. "You may leave me

alone, Annette, a little while," said she; "I don't feel quite well."

"La, my Lady, a'n't your La'ship _late_, already? Your La'ship knows how

early her Grace dines ever since her illness."

"There's plenty of time; I'll ring for you when I want you.

And--stay--you may as well leave your prayer-book with me for a

moment--it will amuse me to look in it." Annette did as she was bid; and

the next moment her melancholy mistress was alone. She did not, however,

open the book she had asked for, but fell into a revery, which was

disturbed some time afterwards, only by her maid tapping at the door;

and who, on entering, told her that she had not one moment to lose; that

his Lordship had been dressed for some time. On this her Ladyship rose,

and commenced her toilet with a very deep sigh.

"Your La'ship, I suppose, wears your gold-colored satin? it matches so

well with the pearls," said Annette, going to the jewel-case.

"I sha'n't wear any pearls to-day."

"Oh! my Lady! not that beautiful spray of Mr. Titmouse's? Your La'ship

does look so well in it!"

"I sha'n't wear anything of Mr. Tit--I mean," she added, coloring, "I

sha'n't wear _anything_ in my hair to-day!"

Many and anxious, it may be easily believed, had been the conferences

and negotiations between the earl, Mr. Gammon, and Mr. Titmouse, with

reference to the state of his property, and the settlement to be made on

Lady Cecilia. It appeared that the extent of the encumbrances on the

Yatton property was £35,000, and which Gammon had many ways of

accounting for, without disclosing the amount of plunder which had

fallen to the share of the firm--or rather to the senior partner. The

interest on this sum (viz. £1,750) would reduce Mr. Titmouse's present

income to £8,250 per annum; but Gammon pledged himself that the rental

of the estates could, with the greatest ease, be raised to £12,000, and

that measures, in fact, were already in progress to effect so desirable

a result. Then there was a sum of £20,000 due to Mr. Titmouse from Mr.

Aubrey, on account of the mesne profits, £10,000 of which was guaranteed

by Lord De la Zouch, and would very shortly become payable with

interest; and the remaining £10,000 could be at any time called in. The

sum finally determined upon, as a settlement upon Lady Cecilia, was

£3,000 a-year--surely a very substantial "_consideration_" for the

"faithful _promise_" to be, by-and-by, made by her at the altar--and

which, moreover, she conceived she had a prospect of having entirely to

herself--really "for her _separate_ use, exempt from the control, debts,

and engagements of her said intended husband." I am sorry to say that

Lady Cecilia clung to the prospect of an almost immediate _separation_;

which, she learned from several confidential friends, some of whom were

qualified, by personal experience, to offer an opinion, was a very easy

matter, becoming daily more frequent on the ground of incompatibility of

temper. A faint hint of the kind which she had once dropped to Miss

Macspleuchan, was received in such a manner as prevented Lady Cecilia

from ever repeating it. As for the earl, her father, I cannot say that

he did not observe a depression of spirits in his daughter, increasing

with the increasing proximity of her marriage. Since, however, _he_ had

entirely reconciled _himself_ to it--and was delighted at the

approaching long-coveted reunion of the family interests--he did not

think of _her_ having any real objection to the arrangements. As for her

lowness of spirits, and nervousness, doubtless--his Lordship

considered--every woman on the point of being married, experienced

similar feelings. She herself, indeed, seldom if ever named the matter

to her father in such a way as to occasion him uneasiness. In short, the

affair seemed to be going on just as it ought to do; and even had it

assumed an untoward aspect, circumstances had arisen which would have

prevented the earl from giving his wonted attention to what in any

degree concerned his daughter. In the first place, on his Lordship's

party coming into power, to his infinite amazement his old post of Lord

High Steward was filled up by some one else! So also was the office of

Lord President of the Council; and so, moreover, was every other

official post; and that, too, without any apology to the offended peer,

or explanation of such a phenomenon as his entire exclusion from office.

The Premier had, in fact, never once thought of his Lordship while

forming his administration; and on being subsequently remonstrated with

by a venerable peer, a common friend of the Premier and Lord

Dreddlington, the Premier very calmly and blandly expressed his regret

that Lord Dreddlington had not given him notice of his being

still--"even in his advanced years"--disposed to hold office; and

trusted that he should yet be able, and before any long time should have

elapsed, to avail himself of the very valuable services "of my Lord

Dreddlington." This was all that he could get from the courteous but

marble-hearted Premier; and, for a long while, the earl could think of

only one mode of soothing his wounded feelings--viz. going about to his

friends, and demonstrating that the new Lord Steward and the new Lord

President were every day displaying their unfitness for office; and that

the only error committed by the Premier, in the difficult and

responsible task of forming a government, was that of selecting two such

individuals as he had appointed to those distinguished posts. He was

also greatly comforted and supported, at this period of vexation and

disappointment, by the manly and indignant sympathy of--Mr. Gammon, who

had succeeded in gaining a prodigious ascendency over the earl, who, on

the sudden death of his own solicitor, old Mr. Pounce, adopted Gammon in

his stead; and infinitely rejoiced his Lordship was, to have thus

secured the services of one who possessed an intellect at once so

practical, masterly, and energetic; who had formed so high an estimate

of his Lordship's powers; and whom his Lordship's condescending

familiarity never for one moment caused to lose sight of the vast

distance and difference between them. He appeared, moreover, to act

between Titmouse and the earl with the scrupulous candor and fidelity of

a high-minded person, consciously placed in a situation of peculiar

delicacy and responsibility. At the least, he seemed exceedingly anxious

to secure Lady Cecilia's interests; and varied--or _appeared_ to

vary--the arrangements, according to every suggestion of his Lordship.

The earl was satisfied that Gammon was disposed to make Titmouse go much

farther than of his own accord he would have felt disposed to go,

towards meeting the earl's wishes in the matter of the settlements;--in

fact, Gammon evinced, in the earl's opinion, great anxiety to place her

Ladyship in that position to which her high pretensions so justly

entitled her.

But this was not the only mode by which he augmented and secured his

influence over the weak old peer. Not only had Gammon, in the manner

pointed out in a previous portion of this history, diminished the drain

upon his Lordship's income, which had so long existed in the shape of

interest upon money lent him on mortgage, (and which embarrassments, by

the way, had all arisen from his foolish state and extravagance when

Lord High Steward;) not only, I say, had Gammon done all this, but

infinitely more;--he had enabled his Lordship, as it were, "to strike a

blow in a new hemisphere," and at once evince his fitness for the

conduct of important and complicated affairs of business, acquire an

indefinite augmentation of fortune, and also great influence and

popularity.

England, about the time I am speaking of, was smitten with a sort of

mercantile madness--which showed itself in the shape of a monstrous

passion for JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. John Bull all of a sudden took it

into his head, that no commercial undertaking of the least importance

could any longer be carried on by means of _individual_ energy, capital,

and enterprise. A glimmering of this great truth he discovered that he

had had, from the first moment that a private _partnership_ had been

adopted; and it was only to follow out the principle--to convert a

private into a public partnership, and call it a "Joint-stock Company."

This bright idea of John's produced prompt and prodigious results--a

hundred _joint stock companies_

"Rose like an exhalation,"

in the metropolis alone, within one twelvemonth's time. But then came

the question, _upon what_ were these grand combined forces to operate?

Undertakings of commensurate magnitude must be projected--and so it was.

It really mattered not a straw how wild and ludicrously impracticable

was a project--it had but to be started, and announced, to call forth

moneyed people among all classes, all _making haste to be rich_--and

ready to back the speculation, even to the last penny they had in the

world; pouring out their capital with a recklessness, of which the

lamentable _results_ may prevent their recurrence. Any voluble visionary

who was unluckily able to reach the ear of one or two persons in the

city, could expand his crotchet into a "company" with as little effort

as an idiot could blow out a soap-bubble. For instance: one wiseacre

(who surely ought never to have been at large) conceived a plan for

creating ARTIFICIAL RAIN at an hour's notice, over any extent of country

short of a circle of three miles in diameter; a second, for conveying

MILK to every house in the metropolis in the same way as water is at

present conveyed--viz. by pipes, supplied by an immense reservoir of

milk to be established at Islington, and into which a million of cows

were to be milked night and morning; a third, for converting _saw-dust

into solid wood_; and a fourth, for surrounding the metropolis with a

wall twenty feet in thickness, and fifty in height. Within three days of

each of these hopeful speculations being announced, there were as many

completely organized joint-stock companies established to carry them

into effect. Superb offices were engaged in the city; Patrons,

Presidents, Vice-Presidents; Trustees, Chairmen, Directors; Secretaries,

Actuaries, Architects, Auditors; Bankers, Standing Counsel, Engineers,

Surveyors, and Solicitors, appointed: and the names of all these

functionaries forthwith blazed in dazzling array at the head of a

"Prospectus," which set forth the advantages of the undertaking with

such seductive eloquence as no man could resist; and within a week's

time there was not a share to be had in the market. Into affairs of this

description, Mr. Gammon, who soon saw the profit to be made out of them,

if skilfully worked, plunged with the energy and excitement of a

gamester. He drew in Mr. Quirk after him; and, as they could together

command the ears of several enterprising capitalists in the city, they

soon had their hands full of business, and launched two or three very

brilliant speculations. Mr. Gammon himself drew up their

"_Prospectuses_," and in a style which must have tempted the very devil

himself (had he seen them) into venturing half his capital in the

undertaking!--One was a scheme for providing the metropolis with a

constant supply of salt water by means of a canal cut from the vicinity

of the Nore, and carried nearly all round London, so as to afford the

citizens throughout the year the luxury of sea-bathing. Another was of a

still more extraordinary and interesting description--for carrying into

effect a discovery, by means of which, ships of all kinds and sizes

could be furnished with the means, by one and the same process--and that

remarkably simple, cheap, and convenient--of obtaining _pure fresh

water_ from the SEA, and converting the salt or brine thrown off in the

operation, _instanter_ into _gunpowder_! The reality of this amazing

discovery was decisively ascertained by three of the greatest chemists

in England; a patent was taken out, and a company formed for immediately

working the patent. This undertaking was the first that Gammon brought

under the notice of the Earl of Dreddlington, whom he so completely

dazzled by his description, both of the signal service to be conferred

upon the country, and the princely revenue to be derived from it to

those early entering into the speculation, that his Lordship intimated

rather an anxious wish to be connected with it.

"Good gracious, sir!" said his Lordship, with an air of wonder--"to what

a pitch is science advancing! When will human ingenuity end? Sir, I

doubt not that one of these days _everything_ will be found out!"

"Certainly--I feel the full force of your Lordship's very striking

observation," replied Gammon, who had listened to him with an air of

delighted deference.

"Sir, this is a truly astonishing discovery! Yet, I give you my honor,

sir, I have often thought that something of the kind was very desirable,

as far as the obtaining fresh water from salt water was concerned, and

have wondered whether it could ever be practicable: but I protest the

latter part of the discovery--the conversion of the brine into

gunpowder--is--is--sir, I say it is--astounding; it is more; it is very

interesting, in a picturesque, and important in a patriotic point of

view. Only think, sir, of our vessels gathering gunpowder and fresh

water from the sea they are sailing over. Sir, the discoverer deserves a

subsidy! This must in due time be brought before Parliament." His

Lordship got quite excited; and Gammon, watching his opportunity,

intimated the pride and pleasure it would give him to make his Lordship

the patron of the gigantic undertaking in question.

"Sir--sir--you do me--infinite honor," quoth the earl, quite flustered

by the suddenness of the proposal.

"As there will be, of course, your Lordship sees, several great

capitalists concerned, I must, for form's sake, consult them before any

step is taken; but I flatter myself, my Lord, that there can be but one

opinion, when I name to them the possibility of our being honored with

your Lordship's name and influence."

The earl listened to this with a stately bow and a gratified smile; and

on the ensuing day received a formal communication from Messrs. Quirk,

Gammon, and Snap, soliciting his Lordship to become the patron of the

undertaking--which he most graciously acceded to; and was easily

prevailed upon to secure several other highly distinguished names among

his friends, who were profoundly ignorant of _business_, in all its

departments, but delighted to figure before the public, as the patrons

of so great and laudable an enterprise. Out went forthwith, all over the

country, the advertisements and prospectuses of the new company, and

which could boast such commanding names as cast most of its sister

companies into the shade--_e. g._ "The Right Honorable the EARL of

DREDDLINGTON, G.C.B., F.C.S., F.P.S., &c. &c."--"The Most Noble the DUKE

of TANTALLAN, K.T., &c. &c."--"The Most Honorable the MARQUIS of

MARMALADE, &c. &c. &c." The capital to be one million, in ten thousand

shares of one hundred pounds each. Lord Dreddlington was presented with

a hundred shares, as a mark of respect and gratitude from the leading

shareholders; moreover, his Lordship took two hundred shares besides,

and prevailed on various of his friends to do the same. In less than

three weeks' time the shares had risen to £40 premium--[_i.e._ my lady

readers will understand, each share for which his Lordship was supposed

to have given, or to be liable to be called upon for £100, he could at

any moment dispose of for £140]--and then Mr. Gammon so represented

matters to his Lordship, as to induce him to part with his shares, which

he found no difficulty in doing--and thereby realized a clear profit of

£12,000. This seemed to the earl rather the effect of magic than of an

everyday mercantile adventure. His respect for Gammon rose with

everything he heard of that gentleman, or saw him do; and his Lordship

allowed himself to be implicitly guided by him in all things. Under his

advice, accordingly, the earl became interested in several other similar

speculations, which so occupied his thoughts as almost to obliterate his

sense of ministerial injustice. Several of his friends cautioned him,

now and then, against committing himself to such novel and extensive

speculations, in which he might incur, he was reminded, dangerous

liabilities; but his magnificent reception of such interference, soon

caused their discontinuance. The earl felt himself safe in the hands of

Mr. Gammon, forming an equal and a very high estimate of his ability and

integrity.

His Lordship's attention having been thus directed to such matters--to

the mercantile interests of this great country--he soon began to take a

vast interest in the discussion of such subjects in the House, greatly

to the surprise and edification of many of his brother peers. Absorbing,

however, as were these and similar occupations, they were almost

altogether suspended as soon as a day--and that not a distant one--had

been fixed upon for the marriage of the Lady Cecilia with Mr. Titmouse.

From that moment, the old man could scarcely bear her out of his

presence; following and watching all her movements with a peculiar,

though still a stately, solicitude and tenderness. Frequent, earnest,

and dignified, were his interviews with Titmouse--his representations as

to the invaluable treasure that was about to be intrusted to him in the

Lady Cecilia--the last direct representative of the most ancient noble

family in the kingdom. Innumerable were his Lordship's directions to him

concerning his future conduct, both in public and private life;

intimating, in a manner at once impressive and affectionate, that the

eyes of the country would be thenceforward fixed upon him, as son-in-law

of the Earl of Dreddlington. His Lordship, moreover--pocketing the

affront he had received at the hands of the Ministry--made a very

strenuous and nearly a successful effort to procure for his destined

son-in-law a vacant lordship of the Treasury. The Premier was really

beginning to consider the subject, when Mr. O'Gibbet extinguished all

the aspiring hopes of poor Lord Dreddlington, by applying for the vacant

office for Mr. Och Hubbaboo, an early friend of Mr. O'Gibbet; and who

having failed in business, and been unable to re-establish himself, had

come into the House of Commons to repair his shattered fortunes. I need

hardly say, that within a day or two, Mr. Hubbaboo was made a lord of

the Treasury; and thereby were very nearly alienated from Ministers two

stanch and enlightened supporters--to wit, the Earl of Dreddlington and

Mr. Titmouse.

Early in the forenoon of Tuesday the 1st of April 18--, there were

indications in the neighborhood of Lord Dreddlington's house in

Grosvenor Square, that an aristocratic wedding was about to be

celebrated. Lady Cecilia's bridemaids, and one or two other ladies, the

Duke and Duchess of Tantallan, and a few other persons of distinction,

who were to accompany the party to church, made their appearance about

eleven o'clock; and shortly afterwards dashed up Mr. Titmouse's cab, in

which sat that gentleman, enveloped in a magnificent green cloak,

designed to conceal from vulgar observation the full splendor of his

personal appearance. He had been engaged at his toilet since five

o'clock that morning; and the results were not unworthy of the pains

which had been taken to secure them. He wore a light-blue body coat,

with velvet collar; tight black pantaloons tying round his ankles;

gossamer white silk stockings, and dress-shoes, with small gold buckles.

His shirt was of snowy whiteness, and there glittered in the centre of

it a very superb diamond brooch. He had two waistcoats, the under one a

sky-blue satin, (only the roll visible,) the outer one of white satin,

richly embroidered. A burnished gold guard-chain was disposed very

gracefully over the exterior of his outer waistcoat. His hair was parted

down the middle, and curled forward towards each temple, giving his

countenance a very bold and striking expression. He wore white kid

gloves, a glossy new hat, and held in his hand his agate-headed ebony

cane. Though he tried to look at his ease, his face was rather pale, and

his manner a little flurried. As for the bride--she had slept scarcely a

quarter of an hour the whole night; and a glimpse at her countenance, in

the glass, convinced her of the necessity of yielding to Annette's

suggestions, and rouging a little. Her eyes told of the sleepless and

agitated night she had passed; and while dressing, she was twice forced

to drink a little sal volatile and water. She was cold, and trembled.

When at length she had completed her toilet, what a figure did her glass

present to her! The dress--rich white satin--a long and beautiful blonde

lace veil--and a delicate wreath of orange blossoms, was that of a

bride, certainly; but was the haggard countenance that of a bride? Miss

Macspleuchan burst into tears at the sight. When, attended by her

bridemaids and Miss Macspleuchan, she made her appearance in the

drawing-room, the Earl of Dreddlington approached her, and saluted her

with silent tenderness. Then Titmouse came up, very pale, but with a

would-be familiar air--"Hope you're quite well, dearest, this happy

day," said he, and kissed her gloved hand. She made him no reply;

stepped back, and sank upon the sofa; and presently the carriages were

announced to be in readiness. The earl led her down, followed by her two

bridemaids, and entered the first carriage, which then drove off to St.

George's Church; Titmouse and the rest of the party immediately

following. The ceremony was to be performed by the Bishop of Barnard

Castle, an old friend, and indeed a distant relation of Lord

Dreddlington's. Methinks I now see his portly and commanding figure,

standing at the altar, with the little distinguished party before him;

and hear his clear, sonorous voice reading the marriage-service.

Titmouse was pale and flushed by turns, and looked frightened--behaving,

however, with more sedateness than I should have expected. Lady Cecilia

leaned, when she could, against the rails; and repeated her few allotted

words in a voice scarcely audible. When Titmouse fixed the ring upon her

finger, she trembled and shed tears--averting her face from him, and at

length concealing it entirely in her pocket-handkerchief. She looked,

indeed, the image of misery. The Earl of Dreddlington maintained a

countenance of rigid solemnity. At length the all-important ceremony

came to a close; the necessary entries and signatures were made in the

vestry, to which the wedding party followed the bishop; and then Mr.

Titmouse, taking HIS WIFE'S arm within his own, led her out to the

private door, where stood waiting for them the earl's chariot. He handed

her into it, and popped in after her--a little crowd standing round to

catch a glimpse of the distinguished bride and bridegroom; and they

drove rapidly homeward. He sat in one corner, and she in the other; each

so occupied with their own thoughts, that they uttered scarcely two

words all the way.

A splendid _déjeuner à la fourchette_ was prepared, and a very brilliant

party attended to pay their respects to the bride and bridegroom, and

the Earl of Dreddlington; and about two o'clock the Lady Cecilia

withdrew to prepare for her journey, which was to Poppleton Hall, her

father's residence in Hertfordshire, where they were to spend their

honeymoon. She had never shown so much emotion in her life as when she

parted with Miss Macspleuchan and her bridemaids--being several times on

the verge of hysterics. Mr. Titmouse's travelling-chariot--a dashing

chocolate-colored one, with four horses--stood at the door, her

Ladyship's maid and his valet seated in the rumble. Some hundred people

stood round to see the

"Happy, happy, happy pair,"

set off on their journey of happiness. The earl led down Lady Cecilia,

followed by Titmouse, who had exchanged his hat for a gaudy

travelling-cap, with a gold band round it! Lady Cecilia, with drooping

head and feeble step, suffered the earl, whom she kissed fervently, to

place her in the chariot, when she burst into a flood of tears.

Then Mr. Titmouse shook hands cordially with his distinguished

father-in-law--popped into the chariot--the steps were doubled

up--the door closed--the side-blinds were drawn down by Mr. Titmouse;

"All's right!" cried one of the servants, and away rolled the

carriage-and-four, which, quickening its speed, was soon out of sight.

Lady Cecilia remained in a sort of stupor for some time, and sat silent

and motionless in the corner of the chariot; but Titmouse had now become

lively enough, having had the benefit of some dozen glasses of

champagne.

"Ah, my lovely gal--dearest gal of my heart!" he exclaimed fondly, at

the same time kissing her cold cheeks, and putting his arm round her

waist--"Now you're all my own! 'pon my soul, isn't it funny, though?

We're man and wife! By Jove, I never loved you so much as now, ducky!

eh?" Again he pressed his lips to her cold cheek.

"Don't, don't, I beg," said she, faintly, "I'm not well;" and she feebly

tried to disengage herself from his rude and boisterous embrace: while

her drooping head and ashy cheek fully corroborated the truth of her

statement. In this state she continued for the whole of the first stage.

When they stopped to change horses, says Titmouse, starting up--having

very nearly dropped asleep--"Cicely, as you're so uncommon ill, hadn't

you better have your maid in, and I'll sit on the box?--it would be a

devilish deal more comfortable for you--eh?"

"Oh, I should feel _so_ obliged if you would, Mr. Titmouse!" she replied

faintly. It was done as she wished. Titmouse enveloped himself in his

cloak; and, having lit a cigar, mounted the box, and smoked all the way

till they reached the Hall!

Gammon was one of those who had seen them set off on their auspicious

journey. He contemplated them with deep interest and anxiety.

"Well," he exclaimed, walking away, with a deep sigh, when the carriage

had got out of sight--"So far, _so good_: Heavens! the plot thickens,

and the game is bold!"

Were you, oh unhappy Lady Cecilia! in entering into this ill-omened

union, to be more pitied or despised? 'T was, alas! most _deliberately_

done; in fact, we have already had laid before us ample means of

determining the question--but 't is a delicate and painful one, and had

perhaps be better left alone.

They spent about a fortnight at Poppleton Hall, and then went on to

Yatton; and if the reader be at all curious to know how MR. AND LADY

CECILIA TITMOUSE commenced their matrimonial career, I am able, in some

measure, to gratify him, by the sight of a letter addressed by the Lady

Cecilia, some time afterwards, to one of her confidential friends. 'T is

melancholy enough, with, in addition, all the feebleness and dulness

which might have been expected from one of her Ladyship's temperament

and capacity; yet, methinks, may it suggest topics of instructive

reflection.

"YATTON, _28th April 18--_.

"DEAR BLANCHE--

... "Fate should have something pleasant in store for me, since it

has made me most unhappy now, but it is some consolation that I

took this step purely to please my papa, who seemed to think that

it was a thing that _ought_ to be done: You know he always fretted

himself greatly about the division of the family interests, and so

on; and when he proposed to me this truly unhappy alliance, _I_

supposed it was my duty to comply, as indeed he said it was. I am

sure but for this I should never have dreamed of such a thing as

doing what I did, for if, by the way, fate chose us to come

together, it ought surely to have fitted us to each other; but

really, dear Blanche, (_entre nous_) you cannot _think_ what a

_creature it is_. He is always smoking cigars, &c., and he by that

means not only carries the nasty odor of the smoke about him

everywhere, but also in spite of all I can do, when we come

together in the carriage (which is not often) and at meals, he

communicates the odious smell to my clothes--and Annette wastes a

fortune in eau-de-cologne to scatter over my dresses and her own

too, and he has very nasty habits besides, namely, picking his

teeth, (often at dinner,) eating with his knife, &c. &c., and he is

continually running his fingers through his horrid hair, to curl

it, and carries a comb with him, and several times has combed his

hair in the carriage just before we got out at the door of the

place we were to dine at, and he always takes too much wine, and

comes up the very last to the drawing-room, and sometimes in _such

a state_. I am resolved I will never come home with him from dinner

again, even if I ever go out together with him. I do believe the

wretch has been guilty of some impudence to Annette, for the girl

always colors when I mention his name, and looks confused and

angry, but of course I cannot ask her. And he is such a horrid

_liar_ there is no believing a word he says, he is always saying

that he might if he had chosen marry Lady This and Lady That, and

says Miss Aubrey was dying to have him (I wish, dear B., she _had_,

instead of myself, she would have been welcome for me, to return

and become mistress of Yatton again)--by the way, it certainly is a

truly delightful spot, quite old-fashioned and all that and

delightful grounds about it, but it seems like a nunnery to me, I

am so unhappy and no one seems anxious to come to see me, though

there are the ----'s, and the ----'s, and ----'s within an hour or

two's drive of us, but how can you wonder? for if you only saw the

sort of people that come here, such horrid wretches, a Unitarian

parson and his vulgar wife and daughter and a low apothecary and

auctioneer and so on, which he says is necessary (forsooth) to keep

up his interest in the borough. Then he goes on in such a shameful

and unfeeling and disrespectful way before the vicar (Dr. Tatham, a

very nice person, who I am sure, by his looks, _feels for me_) that

Dr. T. will scarcely ever come near us under one pretence or

another. I am sorry to tell you Mr. Titmouse has no more _sense of

religion_ than a cat or a dog, and I understand he has left a great

many of his election bills unpaid (so that he is very unpopular)

and positively, dear Blanche! the diamond spray the creature bought

me turns out to be only _paste_!! He never goes to church, and has

got up one or two dog-fights in the village, and he is hated by the

tenants, for he is always raising their rents. I forgot to mention

by the way he had the monstrous assurance one morning to _open my

letters_!--and said he had a right to do so, with his own wife, for

we were one (I hate to write it) so I have had a letter-bag of my

own which is always delivered into my own room. Oh Heavens! the

idea of his succeeding to the barony! but to be sure you have no

notion how hard he lives; (and _entre nous_ the other day the

doctor was called in to him and had to put leeches on his head, and

certainly (_entre nous, dearest_ B.,) I understand such things

sometimes do often lead to very _sad results_, but however he

certainly does seem better now.) My papa knows nothing of all this

yet, but he soon must, and I am confident a _separation_ must

ensue, or I shall die, or go mad. Oh how thankful I should be!...

But I could fill two or three sheets more in this way, and yet I

have not told you a hundredth part of his _gaucheries_, but really

you must be quite sick of hearing of them. If he will but leave me

here when he goes up to town, you will surely pay me your promised

visit--and I will tell you many more miserable things. In the mean

while, oh dearest B., how I envy you being single, and wish I were

so again!--_Be sure_ you burn this when you have read it--and

believe me, your unhappy,

"CECILIA.

"P. S. Of course I shall not ask him for one of his ridiculous

franks, I never do; and as your brother is not with you, you must

not grumble at paying the postage of this long letter.

"THE LADY BLANCHE LEWISHAM."

A dull and phlegmatic disposition, like that of Lady Cecilia, must have

been roused and stung indeed, before she could have attained to such

bitterness of expression as is occasionally to be met with in the above

communication. Though it shadows forth, with painful distinctness,

several of the more disadvantageous features of Mr. Titmouse's character

and conduct, there were far darker ones, with which its miserable writer

had not then become acquainted. I shall but hastily glance at one of

them; viz. that he was at that moment keeping a mistress in town, and

commencing the seduction of a farmer's daughter in the neighborhood of

Yatton! Execrable little miscreant!--why should I defile my paper by

further specifying his gross misdeeds, or dwelling upon their sickening

effects on the mind and feelings of the weak woman, who could suffer

herself to be betrayed into such a monstrous union?--But is she the only

one that has done so?

Whatever may be the accidental and ultimate advantages, in respect of

fortune or social station, expected to be realized by woman in forming a

union with one who would be otherwise regarded with indifference, or

dislike, or disgust, she may rely upon it that she is committing an act

of deliberate _wickedness_, which will be attended, probably, for the

rest of her life, with consequences of unutterable and inevitable

misery, which even the obtaining of her proposed objects will not

compensate, but only enhance. It is equally a principle of our law, and

of common sense, that people must be understood to have _contemplated_

the natural and necessary consequences of their own acts, even if

hastily--but by so much the more if deliberately done. When, therefore,

they come to experience those consequences, _let them not complain_. A

marriage of this description, is, so to speak, utter dislocation and

destruction to the delicate and beautiful fabric of a woman's character.

It perverts, it _deflects_ the noblest tendencies of her lovely nature;

it utterly degrades and corrupts her; she sinks irretrievably into an

inferior being: instead of her native simplicity and purity, are to be

seen thenceforth only heartlessness and hypocrisy. Her affections and

passions, denied their legitimate objects and outlets, according to

their original weakness or strength of development, either disappear and

wither--and she is no longer WOMAN--or impel her headlong into coarse

sensuality, perhaps at length open criminality; and then she is expelled

indignantly and forever from the community of her sex. 'T is then,

indeed, an angel turned into a FIEND!--Remember, remember, oh woman!

that it is not the mere ring, and the orange blossom, which constitute

the difference between VIRTUE--and VICE!----

Had Lady Cecilia been a woman of acute perceptions or lively

sensibilities, she must have fled from her sufferings--she must have

gone mad, or committed suicide. As it was, dull as was her temperament,

when the more odious points of Titmouse's character and habits were

forced upon her notice by the close and constant contiguity of daily

intercourse, the reflection that such must be the case _for the

remainder of their lives_, became hourly more intolerable, and roused

into existence feelings of active hatred and disgust; she became every

moment even more alive to the real horrors of her position. The slender

stay she had sought for in the reflection that she had incurred all by a

dutiful submission to her father's wishes, quickly gave way; _she knew

that it was false_! As for Titmouse, he had never cared one straw about

anything beyond becoming the husband of the future Baroness of

Drelincourt--and that on account not merely of the dignity and splendor

conferred upon him by such an alliance with the last remaining member of

the elder branch of his ancient family, but also because of the grave

and repeated assurances of Mr. Gammon, that it was in some mysterious

way essential to the tenure of his own position. Had, however, Lady

Cecilia, instead of being cold and inanimate, haughty even to repulsion

in her manner, and of person lean and uninviting--been of fascinating

manners, affectionate disposition, of brilliant accomplishments, and of

ripe loveliness of person, it would, I am persuaded, have made little or

no difference to Mr. Titmouse; since such a radiant being would, as it

were, stand always surrounded by the invisible but impassable barrier of

_refinement_--forever forbidding communion and sympathy. As for Lady

Cecilia, Titmouse could scarcely avoid perceiving how she despised him,

and shunned his company on every possible occasion. No person, from

merely seeing them, could have dreamed of their being husband and wife.

He made no secret at all (at least in his own peculiar visiting circles)

of his wishes that the earl's increasing age and infirmities might

quicken, and Lady Cecilia's apparently delicate health decline

apace--and thus accelerate the accession of Mr. Titmouse to the barony

of Drelincourt.

"Ha, ha!" would exclaim his choice boon companions, "won't it be

comical, Tit, to see you take your seat in the Upper House?"

"'Pon my soul, jolly, ah, ah!--Demme, I'll show the old stagers a funny

trick or two!"

"Capital!--ah, ah, ha!--Do the _donkey_? eh?--You'd make the

chancellor's wig jump off!"

"Ha, ha, ha!--I'll tickle 'em, or my name isn't Tittlebat Titmouse!"--By

all which was meant, that he purposed introducing into the House of

Lords that peculiar mode of debating which had earned him such quick

distinction in the House of Commons!

After they had spent about a month at Yatton, his urgent Parliamentary

duties required Mr. Titmouse to tear himself from that lovely

seclusion--that "bower of bliss"--and resume his arduous post in the

House. Though Lady Cecilia would have vastly preferred being left behind

at Yatton, decency seemed to require that the bride and bridegroom

should make their reappearance in the world jointly, and she was

therefore compelled to accompany him to town; and they were very soon

duly established in his new residence in Park Lane. It was spacious and

elegant--indeed it was furnished with great splendor, inasmuch as _carte

blanche_ had been given to a fashionable upholsterer. In a moment they

were both in the great whirling world of fashion. Lord Dreddlington gave

a series of dinner-parties on their account, as did several of their

distinguished kinsfolk and friends; and in due time their hospitalities

were returned by Mr. Titmouse. His first dinner-party went off with

great _éclat_, no fewer than four peers of the realm, with their ladies,

being among his guests. Mr. Titmouse led down to dinner the gigantic

Duchess of Tantallan, blazing in diamonds, his Grace the Duke bringing

up the rear with the Lady Cecilia--and the splendid affair was duly

announced, the ensuing morning, in the obsequious columns of the

_Aurora_. For some little time Mr. Titmouse occupied his novel and

dazzling position with an approach towards decorum and self-denial; but

as he became familiar with it, his old tastes revived, and Lady Cecilia

and her friends were gratified, for instance, while in the drawing-room

after dinner, by catching occasional sounds of Mr. Titmouse's celebrated

imitations of animals, which, once or twice, when considerably elevated,

he insisted upon giving on his re-entering the drawing-room! Indeed, he

spared no pains to acquire the power of pleasing society by the display

of rare accomplishments; for which purpose he took lessons every other

day in the _art diabolic_--_i. e._ in conjuring; in which he soon became

an expert proficient, and could play marvellous tricks upon cards and

with dice, eat pocket-handkerchiefs, cause wine-glasses visibly to sink

through solid tables, and perform sundry other astounding feats. Nor was

he long in collecting round him guests, who not only tolerated, but

professed infinite delight in, such entertainments--"fit audience,

_nor_ few"--consisting principally of those adventurous gentlemen who

have entered Parliament in a devout reliance on Providence to find them

dinners. 'T was only in such society as this that Titmouse could feel

the least sense of enjoyment, and from which Lady Cecilia altogether

absented herself, often without deigning the slightest reason, excuse,

or apology. In fact, the intemperate habits and irregular hours of

Titmouse, soon rendered it necessary that he and the Lady Cecilia should

occupy separate sleeping apartments; for either his club, the House, or

his other engagements, kept him out till a very late--or rather

early--hour every morning.

It was about half-past eleven o'clock one day towards the latter end of

June, that Mr. Titmouse, having finished breakfast, (which was surely

very early, since he had not gone to bed till four o'clock that

morning,) a meal to which he invariably sat down alone, often not

catching a glimpse of Lady Cecilia during the day, except on a chance

encounter in the hall, or on the stairs, or when they were forced to go

out to dinner together--had entered his library, to enjoy undisturbed

the luxury of his hookah. The apartment was spacious and handsome. All

the sides of it were occupied by very curious antique carved oak

bookcases, which had belonged to the former tasteful occupant of the

house, and from whom they had been purchased by Titmouse, who then

bethought himself of procuring books to fill them. For this purpose, it

luckily occurred to him, on seeing an advertisement of a library for

sale by auction one day, that it would be a good speculation to be

beforehand with the expected audience, and purchase the aforesaid

library in a lump by private contract. He did so--and at a remarkably

low price; giving directions that they should forthwith be carried to a

bookbinder, named by the obsequious auctioneer--with orders to bind

them all in elegant but as varied bindings as possible. Certainly the

works were of a somewhat miscellaneous character;--old Directories;

Poems by Young Ladies and Gentlemen; Ready-Reckoners; Doddridge's

Expositor; Hints on Etiquette; two hundred Minerva press novels;

triplicate copies of some twenty books on cookery; the art of war;

charades; Cudworth's Intellectual System; books of travels; Bibles,

dictionaries, prayer-books, plays; Treatises on Political Economy, and

Dancing; adventures of noted highwaymen; the classics: moral essays;

Enfield's Speaker; and Burn's Ecclesiastical Law. If these respectable

works had had the least sense of the distinction which had been so

unexpectedly bestowed upon them, they ought not to have murmured at

never afterwards receiving the slightest personal attention from their

spirited and gifted proprietor!--The room was lit by a large bow-window,

which, being partially open, admitted the pleasant breeze stirring

without; while the strong light was mitigated by the half-drawn blinds,

and the ample chintz window-draperies. On the mantelpiece stood one or

two small alabaster statues and vases, and a very splendid and

elaborately ornamented French timepiece. The only unpleasantness

perceptible, was the sort of disagreeable odor prevalent in rooms which,

as in the present instance, are devoted to smoking. To this apartment

had been also transferred many of the articles that I have described as

having been visible in his rooms at the Albany. Over the mantelpiece was

placed the picture of the boxers,--that of Mr. Titmouse being similarly

situated in the dining-room. On the present occasion, he wore a full

crimson dressing-gown, with yellow slippers; his shirt-collar was open,

and thrown down over his shoulders,--leaving exposed to view a quantity

of sand-colored hair under his throat. In fact, he looked the image of

some impudent scamp of a valet, who has, in his master's absence,

chosen to dress himself in that master's clothes, and affect his

luxurious airs. He lay on the sofa with his hookah in his left hand;

near him was the table, on which stood the _Morning Growl_, and some

eight or ten letters, only one or two of which had as yet been opened.

He had just leaned back his head, and with an air of tranquil enjoyment

very slowly expelled a mouthful of smoke, when a servant submissively

entered, and announced the arrival of a visitor--Mr. Gammon.

"How d' ye do, Gammon!--early, eh?" commenced Titmouse, without

stirring, and with infinite composure and nonchalance. Mr. Gammon made

the usual reply, and presently sat down in the chair placed for him by

the servant, nearly opposite to Mr. Titmouse--who, had he been

accustomed to observation, or capable of it, might have detected

something rather unusual in the flushed face, the anxious and restless

eye, and the _forced_ manner of his visitor.

"Likely to be a devilish hot day--'pon my soul!".--exclaimed Titmouse,

after again emptying his mouth--adding in a tolerably conceited

manner--"By the way--here's a letter from Snap--just opened it!--Rather

cool, after what's passed--eh? Dem him, asks me for a place under

government;--Ah--a--what's he fit for?"

"For what he _is_, and nothing else," replied Gammon, with a bitter

smile, glancing over poor Snap's letter, which Titmouse handed to him,

though marked "strictly confidential"--Gammon being undoubtedly the very

last man upon earth whom Snap would have wished to know of his

application.

"Were you at the House last night?" inquired Gammon--"They sat very

late! Lord Bulfinch made, I think, a very powerful speech"----

"Yes--devilish good--rather long though; and too many of those cursed

_figures_ that--by Jove--no one cares about!" replied Titmouse,

languidly.

He had by this time turned himself towards Mr. Gammon,--his right arm

and leg hanging carelessly over the further side of the sofa.

"Lady Cecilia is well, I hope?"

"Can't say--not seen her this week," drawled Titmouse. "I'll ring and

ask if you wish," he added, with an affected smile.

"Ah, my dear Titmouse," quoth Gammon, blandly, and with a smile of

delicious flattery, "I hope you don't give her Ladyship just cause for

_jealousy_?--eh? You must not avail yourself of your--your acknowledged

power over the sex--ahem!"

Mr. Titmouse, half closing his eyes, silently expelled a mouthful of

smoke, while an ineffable smile stole over his features.

"You must not neglect her Ladyship, Titmouse," quoth Gammon, gently

shaking his head, and with an anxiously deferential air.

"'Pon my life, I don't neglect her!--Public life, you know--eh?" replied

Titmouse, slowly, with his eyes closed, and speaking with the air of one

suffering from _ennui_. Here a pause of some moments ensued.

"Can we have about half an hour to ourselves, uninterruptedly?" at

length inquired Mr. Gammon.

"Ah--a--why--my singing-master is coming here a little after twelve,"

quoth Titmouse, turning himself round, so as to be able to look at the

clock on the mantelpiece.

"Oh, probably less than that period will suffice, if we shall not be

interrupted--may I ring the bell, and will you give orders to that

effect?" With this, Gammon rang the bell; and on the servant's

appearing:--

"I say, sir--do you hear, demme?" said Titmouse, "not at home--till

this gentleman's gone." The man bowed, and withdrew; and on his closing

the door, Gammon softly stepped after him and bolted it; by which time

Titmouse, somewhat startled, withdrew his hookah, for an instant, from

his mouth, and gazed rather anxiously at Gammon, about whose appearance

he then, for the first time, fancied he saw something unusual.

"Aha!--My stars, Mr. Gammon, we're going to be _devilish_ secret--aren't

we!" exclaimed Titmouse, with a faint smile, having watched Mr. Gammon's

movement with great surprise; and he began to smoke rather more

energetically than before, with his eye fixed on the grave countenance

of Mr. Gammon.

"My dear Titmouse," commenced his visitor, drawing his chair near to

him, and speaking in a very earnest but kindly manner, "does it never

astonish you, when you reflect on the stroke of fortune which has

elevated you to your present point of splendor and distinction?"

"Most amazing!--uncommon!" replied Titmouse, apprehensively.

"It _is_!--marvellous! unprecedented! You are the envy of hundreds upon

hundreds of thousands! Such an affair as yours does not happen above

once or twice in a couple of centuries--if so often! You cannot imagine

the feelings of delight with which _I_ regard all this--this brilliant

result of my long labors, and untiring devotion to your service."--He

paused.

"Oh, 'pon my life, yes; it's all very true," replied Titmouse, with a

little trepidation, replenishing the bowl of his hookah with tobacco.

"May I venture to hope, my dear Titmouse, that I have established my

claim to be considered, in some measure, as the sole architect of your

extraordinary fortunes--your earliest--your most constant friend?"

"You see, as I've often said, Mr. Gammon--I'm most uncommon obliged to

you for all favors--so help me----! and no mistake," said Titmouse,

exhibiting a countenance of increasing seriousness; and he rose from his

recumbent posture, and, still smoking, sat with his face turned full

towards Mr. Gammon, who resumed--

"As I am not in the habit, my dear Titmouse, of beating about the bush,

let me express a hope that you consider the services I have rendered you

not unworthy of requital"----

"Oh yes--to be sure--certainly," quoth Titmouse, slightly changing

color--"anything, by Jove, that's in my power--but it is most particular

unfortunate that--ahem!--so deuced hard up just now--but--ah, 'pon my

soul, I'll speak to Lord Bulfinch, or some of those people, and get you

something--though I sha'n't do anything of the kind for _Snap_--dem him!

You've no idea," continued Titmouse, anxiously, "how devilish thick Lord

Bulfinch and I are--he shakes hands with me when we meet alone in the

lobby--he does, 'pon my life."

"I am very much obliged, my dear Titmouse, for your kind offer--but I

have a _little_ political influence myself, when I think fit to exert

it," replied Gammon, gravely.

"Well, then," interrupted Titmouse, eagerly--"as for money, if that's

what--by jingo! but if _you_ don't know how _precious_ hard up one is

just now"--

"My dear sir," replied Gammon, his countenance sensibly darkening as he

went on, "the subject on which we are now engaged is one of

inexpressible interest and importance, in my opinion, to each of us; and

let us discuss it calmly. I am prepared to make a communication to you

immediately, which you will never forget to the day of your death. Are

you prepared to receive it?"

"Oh yes!--Never so wide awake in my life! O Lord! fire away!"--replied

Titmouse; and taking the tip of his hookah from his lips, and holding

it in the fingers of his left hand, he leaned forward, staring

open-mouthed at Gammon.

"Well, my dear Titmouse, then I will proceed. I will not enjoin you to

secrecy;--and that not merely because I have full confidence in your

honor--but because you cannot disclose it to any mortal man but at the

peril of immediate and utter ruin."

"'Pon my soul, most amazing! Demme, Mr. Gammon, you frighten me out of

my wits!" said Titmouse, turning paler and paler, as his recollection

became more and more distinct of certain mysterious hints of Mr.

Gammon's, many months before, at Yatton, as to his power over Titmouse.

"Consider for a moment. You are now a member of Parliament; the

unquestioned owner of a fine estate; the husband of a lady of very high

rank--the last direct representative of one of the proudest and most

ancient of the noble families of Great Britain; you yourself are next

but one in succession to almost the oldest barony in the kingdom; in

fact, in all human probability, you are the next LORD DRELINCOURT; and

all this through ME." He paused.

"Well--excuse me, Mr. Gammon--but I hear;--though--ahem! you're (meaning

no offence)--I can't for the life and soul of me tell what the devil it

is you're driving at"--said Titmouse, twisting his finger into his hair,

and gazing at Gammon with intense anxiety. For some moments Mr. Gammon

remained looking very solemnly and in silence at Titmouse; and then

proceeded.

"Yet you are _really_ no more entitled to _be_ what you seem--what you

are thought--or to possess what you at present possess--than--the little

wretch that last swept your chimneys here!"

The hookah dropped out of Titmouse's hand upon the floor, and he made

no effort to pick it up, but sat staring at Gammon, with cheeks almost

as white as his shirt-collar, and in blank dismay.

"I perceive you are agitated, Mr. Titmouse," said Gammon, kindly.

"By Jove--I should think so!" replied Titmouse, faintly; but he tried to

assume an incredulous smile--in vain, however; and to such a pitch had

his agitation reached, that he rose, opened a cabinet near him, and

taking out from it a brandy-flask and a wine-glass, poured it out full,

and drank it off. "You a'n't _joking_, Mr. Gammon, eh?" Again he

attempted a sickly smile.

"God forbid, Mr. Titmouse!"

"Well--but," faltered Titmouse, "_why_ a'n't I entitled to it all?

Hasn't the law given it to me? And can't the law do as it likes?"

"No one on earth knows the _what_ and the _why_ of this matter but

myself; and, if you choose, no one ever shall; nay, I will take care, if

you come this morning to my terms, to deprive even myself of all means

of proving what I can _now_ prove, at any moment I choose"----

"Lord, Mr. Gammon!" ejaculated Titmouse, passing his hand hastily over

his damp forehead--his agitation visibly increasing. "What's to be the

figure?" he faltered presently, and looked as if he dreaded to hear the

answer.

"If you mean, what are my _terms_--I will at once tell you:--they are

terms on which I shall peremptorily insist; they have been long fixed in

my own mind; I am quite inflexible; so help me Heaven, I will not vary

from them a hair's breadth! I require first, to sit in Parliament for

Yatton at the next election; and afterwards alternately with yourself;

and secondly, that you immediately grant me an annuity for my life of

two thousand pounds a-year on your"----

Titmouse sprang from the sofa, dashing his fist on the table, and

uttering a frightful imprecation. He stood for a moment, and then threw

himself desperately at full length on the sofa, muttering the same

execration which had first issued from his lips. Gammon moved not a

muscle, but fixed a steadfast eye on Titmouse; the two might have been

compared to the affrighted rabbit, and the deadly boa-constrictor.

"It's all a swindle!--a d----d swindle!" at length he exclaimed,

starting up into a sitting posture, and almost grinning defiance at

Gammon.

"You're a swindler!"--he exclaimed vehemently.

"Possibly--but _you_, sir, are a BASTARD," replied Gammon, calmly.

Titmouse looked the picture of horror, and trembled in every limb.

"It's a lie!--It's all a lie!"--he gasped.

"Sir, you are a _bastard_"--repeated Gammon, bitterly, and extending his

forefinger threateningly towards Titmouse. Then he added with sudden

vehemence--"Wretched miscreant--do you presume to tell me I lie? You

base-born cur!"--a lightning glance shot from his eye; but he restrained

himself. Titmouse sat at length as if petrified, while Gammon, in a low

tone, and with fearful bitterness of manner, proceeded--"_You_ the owner

of Yatton? _You_ the next Lord Drelincourt? No more than the helper in

your stables! One breath of mine blights you forever--as an impostor--a

mere audacious swindler--to be spit upon! to be kicked out of

society--perhaps to be transported for life. Gracious Heavens! what will

the Earl of Dreddlington say when he hears that his sole daughter and

heiress is married to a----It will kill _him_, or he will kill _you_!"

"Two can play at that," whispered Titmouse, faintly--indeed almost

inarticulately. There was nearly a minute's pause.

"No--but _is_ it all true?--honor!" inquired Titmouse, in a very subdued

voice.

"As God is my witness!" replied Gammon.

"Well," exclaimed Titmouse, after a prodigious sigh, "then at any rate,

you're in for it with me; you said just now you'd done it all. Aha! I

recollect, Mr. Gammon! I should no more have thought of it

_myself_--Lord! than--what d'ye say to _that_, Mr. Gammon?"

"Alas, sir! it will not avail you," replied Gammon, with a fearful

smile; "for I never made the dreadful discovery of your illegitimacy

till it was too late--till at least two months after I had put you (whom

I believed the true heir) into possession of Yatton!"

"Ah--I don't know--but--why didn't you tell Lord Dreddlington? Why did

you let me marry Lady Cicely? By Jove, but it's _you_ he'll kill," quoth

Titmouse, eagerly.

"Yes!--Alas! I ought to have done so," replied Mr. Gammon, with a

profound sigh--adding, abstractedly, "It may not be too late to make his

Lordship _some_ amends. I may save his _title_ from degradation. Lord

Drelincourt"----

"O Lord!" ejaculated Titmouse, involuntarily, and almost unconsciously,

staring stupidly at Gammon, who continued with a renewed sigh--"Yes, I

_ought_ to have told his Lordship--but I own--I was led away by feelings

of pity--of affection for YOU--and, alas! is this the return?" He spoke

this with a look and in a tone of sorrowful reproach.

"Well, you shouldn't have come down on one so suddenly--all at once--how

can a man--eh? Such _horrid_ news!"

"It has cost me, sir, infinitely greater pain to tell you, than it has

cost you to hear it!"

"By the living Jove!" exclaimed Titmouse, starting up with a sort of

recklessness, and pouring out and tossing off a second glassful of

brandy--"it _can't_ be true--it's all a dream! I--I a'n't--I _can't_ be

a bas---- perhaps _you're_ all this while the true heir, Mr. Gammon?"

he added briskly, and snapped his fingers at his companion.

"No, sir, I am not," replied Gammon, calmly; "but let me tell you, _I

know where he is to be found_, Mr. Titmouse! Do you commission me to go

in search of him?" he inquired, suddenly fixing his bright penetrating

eye upon Titmouse, who instantly stammered out--"O Lord! By Jove! no,

no!"

Gammon could scarcely suppress a bitter smile, so ludicrous were the

look and tone of Titmouse.

"You shouldn't have let me spend such a lot of money, if it wasn't mine

all the while"----

"The estate was, in a manner, Mr. Titmouse, in my _gift_; and in

pitching upon you, sir, out of several, I had imagined that I had chosen

a gentleman--a man grateful and honorable"----

"'Pon my solemn soul, so I _am_!" interrupted Titmouse, eagerly.

"I had but to scrawl a line or two with my pen, the very first day that

I saw you at the shop of Mr. Tag-rag--and there, sir--or in some similar

hole--you would have been at this moment!" replied Gammon, with a sudden

sternness which quite overawed Titmouse; totally losing sight, however,

of the very different account of the matter which he had given Titmouse

five minutes before; but the very best and most experienced liars have

short memories. Here it was, however, _Liar_ v. _Fool_; and the latter

did not perceive the slip made by his adversary--who, however, suddenly

became aware of his little inconsistency, and colored.

"You'll excuse me, sir," quoth Titmouse, presently; and with an air

which was becoming momentarily more timid and doubtful--"but _will_ you,

if all this isn't a bottle of smoke, tell me how you can _prove_ it all?

Because, you know, it isn't only _saying_ the thing that will do--you

know, Mr. Gammon?"

"Certainly--certainly! You are quite right, Mr. Titmouse! Nothing can be

more reasonable! Your curiosity shall be gratified. Aware that your

natural acuteness, my dear sir, would in all probability prompt you to

make the very observation you have now made, I have provided myself with

the two principal documents, and you shall see them; though I doubt

whether you will at first sight understand them, or appreciate their

importance; but, if you desire it, I will fully explain them to you."

With this he produced his pocket-book, and took out carefully two small

pieces of paper, folded up, which, after a very brief preliminary

explanation which made Titmouse tremble from head to foot, and no longer

disbelieve the representations of Gammon, he unfolded and read--Titmouse

looking affrightedly over his shoulder.

"Do I know the hand-writing?" he inquired faintly.

"Probably not," replied Gammon.

"It's a devilish queer sort of writing, and precious little of it"----

"It _is_, and when you consider"----

"Are both in the same handwriting?" inquired Titmouse, taking them into

his tremulous hand; while Gammon observed that his countenance indicated

the despair which had taken possession of him.

"That cursed curtain is so much in the light," said Titmouse, looking

up; and going towards it, as if to draw it aside, he started suddenly

away from Gammon, and with frenzied gestures tore the little papers to

pieces with inconceivable rapidity, and flung them out of the window,

where a brisk breeze instantly took them up, and scattered them

abroad--the glistening fragments--never to be again reunited.

Having performed this astounding feat, he instantly turned round, and

leaning his back against the window, gazed at Gammon with a desperate

air of mingled apprehension and triumph, but spoke not a word. Nor did

Gammon; but--oh the dreadful look with which he regarded Titmouse while

slowly approaching towards him! who, stepping aside, as Gammon advanced,

reached the cabinet, and with desperate rapidity threw open the door,

and, as if the devil had been waiting his bidding, in a moment turned

round upon Gammon with a pistol.

"So help me God, I'll fire!" gasped Titmouse, cocking and presenting

it--"I will--I WILL--_One!_--_Two!_--For God's sake! be off!--It's

loaded, and no mistake!--If I say _Th_--I'll fire, if I'm hanged for

it!"

"Booby! You may put your pistol down, sir!" said Gammon, calmly and

resolutely, a contemptuous smile passing over his whitened features.

"Demme!--distance!--Keep your distance!" cried Titmouse, his voice

quivering with agitation.

"Ridiculous simpleton!--You poor rogue!" said Gammon, laughingly. There

was, however, _murder_ in his smile; and Titmouse instinctively

perceived it. He kept his deadly weapon pointed full at Gammon's breast,

but his hand trembled violently. 'T was wonderful that some chance

motion of the shaking finger of Titmouse, did not send a bullet through

Mr. Gammon's heart.

He stood, for a minute or two, gazing steadfastly, and without moving,

at Titmouse; and then, shrugging his shoulders, with a bitter smile

returned to his chair, and resumed his seat. Titmouse, however, refused

to follow his example.

"So help me God, sir! I will not hurt a hair of your head," said

Gammon, earnestly. Still Titmouse remained at the window, pistol in

hand. "Why should I hurt you? What have you _now_ to fear, you little

idiot?" inquired Gammon, impatiently. "Do you, then, really think you

have injured me? Do you positively think me so great a fool, my friend,

as really to have trusted you with the precious originals, of which

those were only the copies?--Copies which I can replace in a minute or

two's time! The originals, believe me, are far away, and safe enough

under lock and key!"

"I--I--I don't believe you," gasped Titmouse, dropping the hand that

held the pistol, and speaking in a truly dismal tone.

"That does not signify, my excellent little rogue," said Gammon, with an

infernal smile, "if the _fact_ be so. That you are a fool, you must by

this time even yourself begin to suspect; and you surely _can't_ doubt

that you are something like an arrant villain after what has just taken

place? Eh? 'T was a bright idea truly--well conceived and boldly

executed. I give you all the credit for it; and it is only your

misfortune that it was not successful. So let us now return to business.

Uncock your pistol--replace it in your cabinet, and resume your seat; or

in one minute's time I leave you, and go direct to Lord Dreddlington;

and if so, you had better use that pistol in blowing out your _own_

brains--if you have any."

Titmouse, after a moment or two's pause of irresolution, passively

obeyed--very nearly on the point of crying aloud with disappointment and

impotent rage; and he and Gammon were presently again sitting opposite

to one another.

Gammon was cold and collected--yet must it not have cost him a

prodigious effort? Though he had told Titmouse that they were _copies_

only which he had destroyed, they were, nevertheless, the ORIGINALS,

which, with such an incredible indiscretion, he had trusted into the

hands of Titmouse; they were the ORIGINALS which Titmouse had just

scattered to the winds; and who, in so doing, had suddenly--but

unknowingly--broken to pieces the wand of the enchanter who had long

exercised over him so mysterious and despotic an authority!--How comes

it, that we not unfrequently find men of the profoundest craft, just at

the very crisis of their fortunes, thus unexpectedly, irretrievably, and

incredibly committing themselves? In the present instance, the only

satisfactory way of accounting for Mr. Gammon's indiscretion, would seem

to be by referring it to a sense of security engendered by his utter

contempt for Titmouse.

"Are you _now_ satisfied, Mr. Titmouse, that you are completely at my

mercy, and at the same time totally undeserving of it?" said Gammon,

speaking in a low and earnest tone, and with much of his former kindness

of manner. To an observant eye, however, what was at that moment the

real expression in that of Gammon? Soothing and gentle as was his voice,

he felt as if he could instantly have destroyed the audacious little

miscreant before him. But he proceeded with wonderful self-command--"Do

not, my dear Titmouse, madly make me your enemy--your enemy for

life--but rather your friend--your watchful and powerful friend and

protector, whose every interest is identified with your own. Remember

all that I have done and sacrificed for you--how I have racked my brain

for you day and night--always relying upon your ultimate gratitude. Oh,

the endless scheming I have had to practise, to conceal your fatal

secret--and of which you shall ere long know more! During these last two

years have I not ruinously neglected my own interests, to look after

yours?"

Gammon paused, and abruptly added--"I have but to lift my finger, and

this splendid dressing-gown of yours, my poor Titmouse, is exchanged

for a prison-jacket"----

"Oh Lord! oh Lord! oh Lord!" suddenly exclaimed Titmouse, with a

shudder--"I wish I were dead and forgotten! oh Lord! what shall I do?

'Pon my _soul_"--he struck his forehead with some violence--"I'm going

mad"----

"Consider, Mr. Titmouse, calmly, how reasonable and moderate is my

offer"--proceeded Gammon; who now and then, however, experienced changes

of color, on the sudden recurrence of a sense of his last misfortune.

"Here's Lady Cicely to have £3,000 a-year," passionately interposed

Titmouse.

"Not till after your death, my dear sir"----

"Then she shall have it directly; for curse me if I don't kill

myself!"----

"Then she would never have a farthing--for I should instantly produce

the real heir"----

"Yah!" exclaimed Titmouse, uttering a sound like the sharp, furious bark

of a cur, foiled at all points. He threw himself on the sofa, and folded

his arms on his breast, compressing them, as it were, with convulsive

vehemence.

"Do not excite yourself, Mr. Titmouse--you are still one of the most

fortunate men upon earth, to have fallen into hands like mine, I can

assure you! You will still enjoy a truly splendid income--little short

of nine thousand a-year--for I will undertake to raise the Yatton

rental, within a few short months, to twelve or thirteen thousand

a-year, as I have often told you--I have explained to you over and over

again, how absurdly under their value they were let in the time of"----

"And you've perhaps forgotten that I've borrowed nearly fifty thousand

pounds--that costs nothing, I suppose!"

"Well, certainly, you must be a little careful for a year or two, that's

all"----

"Demme, sir!--I must give up my _yacht_!" exclaimed Titmouse,

desperately, snapping his thumb and finger vehemently at Gammon.

"Yes--or Yatton," replied Gammon, sternly. "After all--what more shall I

be than a sort of steward of yours?"

"I don't want one," interrupted Titmouse; and, starting from the sofa,

walked to the window, where he stood with his back turned towards

Gammon, and crying! Gammon eyed him for several minutes in silence; and

then slowly approaching him, tapped him briskly on the shoulder.

Titmouse started. "Come, sir--you have now, I hope, relieved your small

feelings, and must attend to me--and be prompt, too, sir! The time for

trifling, and playing the baby, or the girl, is gone. Hark you,

sir!--yield me my terms, or this very day I spring a mine under your

feet, you little villain! that shall blow you into ten thousand atoms,

and scatter them wider than ever you scattered just now those bits of

worthless paper! Do you hear that?" As he said this, he took hold of the

collar of Titmouse's dressing-gown, which Titmouse felt to be grasped by

a hand, tightening momentarily. Titmouse made no reply; but gazed at

Gammon with a countenance full of distress and terror.

"Pause," continued Gammon, in a low vehement tone and manner, "and you

are lost--stripped of this gaudy dress--turned out of this splendid

house into the streets, or a prison!--If I quit this room--and I will

not wait much longer--without your plain and written consent to my

terms, I shall go direct to my Lord Dreddlington, and tell him the

obscure and base-born impostor that has crept"----

"Oh, Mr. Gammon--Mr. Gammon! have mercy on me!" exclaimed Titmouse,

shaking like an aspen-leaf--at length realizing the terrible extent of

danger impending over him.

"Have mercy on yourself!" rejoined Gammon, sternly.

"I will!--I'll do all you ask--I will, so help me----!"

"I'm glad to hear it!" said Gammon, relaxing his hold of Titmouse; and,

in a voice of returning kindness, adding--"Oh, Titmouse, Titmouse! how

fearful would be the scene--when your noble father-in-law--alas! you

must have quitted the country! His Lordship would have instantly

divorced you from the Lady Cecilia!"

"You can't think how I love Lady Cicely!" exclaimed Titmouse, in a

broken voice.

"Ay--but would she love _you_, if she knew who and what you were?"

"Oh Lord! oh Lord! I love Lady Cicely! I love Lady Cicely!"

"Then get pen, ink, and paper, if you would not lose her forever!"

"Here they are, Mr. Gammon!" exclaimed Titmouse, hastily stepping to his

desk which lay on the table; and with tremulous eagerness he got out a

quire of writing-paper and took a pen. "Suppose _you_ write, Mr.

Gammon," said he, suddenly--"my hand trembles so! Lord! I feel so sick,

I'll sign anything you like!"

"Perhaps it would be better," replied Gammon, sitting down, and dipping

his pen into the inkstand; "it may save time." He commenced writing;

and, as he went on, said at intervals--"Yes, Titmouse! Thank God, all is

now over! It shall no longer be in Lord Dreddlington's power--no, nor

any one's--to beggar you--to transport you--to take your noble wife from

you"----

"Oh, no, no! You know Lady Cicely's taken me for better for worse, for

richer for poorer!" interrupted Titmouse, in a sort of agony of

apprehension.

"Ah, Titmouse! But she did not know, when she said that, that she was

speaking to a"----

"What! wouldn't it have held good?" exclaimed Titmouse, perfectly

aghast.

"We need not speculate on a case that cannot arise, my dear Titmouse,"

replied Gammon, eying him steadfastly, and then resuming his

writing.--"This paper becomes, as they say at sea, your

sheet-anchor!--Here you shall remain--the owner of Yatton--of this

splendid house--husband of Lady Cecilia--a member of Parliament--and in

due time, as 'my Lord Drelincourt,' take your place permanently in the

Upper House of Parliament, among the hereditary legislators of your

country. Now, Mr. Titmouse, sign your name, and there's an end forever

of all your unhappiness!"

Titmouse eagerly took the pen, and, with a very trembling hand affixed

his signature to what Gammon had written.

"You'll sign it too, eh?" he inquired timidly.

"Certainly, my dear Titmouse."--Gammon affixed his signature, after a

moment's consideration.--"Now we are both bound--we are friends for

life! Let us shake hands, my dear, dear Titmouse, to bind the bargain!"

They did so, Gammon cordially taking into his hands those of Titmouse,

who, in his anxiety and excitement, never once thought of asking Mr.

Gammon to allow him to read over what had been just signed.

"Oh Lord!" he exclaimed, heaving a very deep sigh, "It seems as if we'd

been only in a dream! I begin to feel _something like_ again!--it's

really all right?"

"On my sacred word of honor," replied Gammon, laying his hand on his

heart, "provided you perform the engagement into which you have this day

entered."

"Never fear! honor bright!" said Titmouse, placing _his_ on his heart,

with as solemn a look as he could assume.

Mr. Gammon, having folded up the paper, put it into his pocket-book.

"I was a trifle too deep for you, Titmouse, eh?" said he,

good-humoredly. "How could you suppose me green enough to bring you the

_real_ documents?" he added with perfect command of voice and feature.

"Where are they?" inquired Titmouse, timidly.

"At a banker's, in a double-iron strong box, with three different

locks."

"Lord!--But, _in course_, you'll put them into the fire when I've

performed my agreement, eh?"

Gammon looked at him for a moment, doubtful what answer to make to this

unexpected question.

"My dear Titmouse," said he at length, "I will be candid--I must

preserve them--but no human eye shall ever see them except my own."

"My stars!--Excuse me"--stammered Titmouse, uneasily.

"Never fear _my_ honor, Titmouse! Have you ever had reason to do so?"

"No--never! It's quite true! And why don't you trust _me_?"

"Have you forgotten!--_Did_ I not trust you--_as you supposed_"--quickly

subjoined Gammon, positively on the point of again committing

himself--"and when you fancied you really had in your power the precious

original documents?"

"Oh! well"--said Titmouse, his face flushing all over--"but that's all

past and gone."

"You _must_ rely on my honor--and I'll tell you why. What would be

easier than for me to pretend to you that the papers which you might see

me burn, were really the originals--and yet be no such thing?"

"In course--yes; I see!" replied Titmouse--who, however, had really not

comprehended the case which Gammon had put to him. "Well--but--I

say--excuse me, Mr. Gammon"--said Titmouse, hesitatingly returning, as

Gammon imagined, to the charge--"but--you said something about the

_real_ heir."

"Certainly. There _is_ such a person, I assure you!"

"Well--but since you and I, you know, have made it up, and are friends

for life--eh? What's to be done with the fellow? (betwixt ourselves!)"

"That is at present no concern--nay, it never will be any concern of

yours or mine. Surely it is enough for you, that you are enjoying the

rank and fortune belonging to some one else? Good gracious! I can't help

reminding you--fancy the natural son of a cobbler--figuring away as the

Right Honorable Lord Drelincourt--while all the while, the real Lord

Drelincourt is--nay, at this moment, pining, poor soul! in poverty and

obscurity."

"Well--I dare say he's used to it, so it can't hurt him much! But I've

been thinking, Mr. Gammon, couldn't we get him--pressed? or enlisted

into the army?--He's a deuced deal better out of the way, you know, for

both of us!"

"Sir!" interrupted Gammon, speaking very seriously, and even with a

melancholy and apprehensive air--"leave the future to _me_. I have made

all requisite arrangements, and am myself implicated already to a

fearful extent on your behalf. The only person on earth, besides myself,

who can disturb my arrangements, is yourself."

Here a gentle tapping was heard at the door.

"Be off!" shouted Titmouse, with angry impatience; but Mr. Gammon, who

was anxious himself to be gone, stepped to the door, and opening it, a

servant entered--a tall graceful footman, with powdered hair,

shoulder-knot, and blue and yellow livery--and who obsequiously

intimated to Mr. Titmouse, that Signor Sol-fa had been in attendance for

at least half-an-hour.

"A--a--I don't sing to-day--let him come to-morrow," said Titmouse, with

attempted ease, and the servant withdrew.

"Farewell, Mr. Titmouse--I have a most important engagement awaiting me

at the office--so I must take my leave. Will you execute the necessary

documents so soon as they are ready? I will cause them to be prepared

immediately."

"Oh, yes!"--and he added in a lower tone--"take care, Mr. Gammon, that

no one knows _why_!--eh, you know?"

"Leave that to _me_!--Good-morning, Mr. Titmouse," replied Gammon,

buttoning his surtout, and taking up his gloves and hat; and having

shaken Titmouse by the hand, he was the next moment in the street--where

he heaved a prodigious sigh--which, however, only momentarily relieved

his pent-up bosom from the long-suppressed rage, the mortification, the

wounded pride, and the wild apprehension with which it was nearly

bursting. Why, what a sudden and dismaying disaster had befallen him!

And what but his own inconceivable folly had occasioned it? His own

puppet had beaten him; had laid him prostrate; 't was as though Prospero

had permitted Caliban to wheedle him out of his wand!--What could Gammon

possibly have been thinking about, when he trusted the originals into

the hands of Titmouse? As Gammon recognized no overruling Providence, he

was completely at a loss to account for an act of such surpassing

thoughtlessness and weakness as he had committed--at the mere

recollection of which, as he walked along he ground his teeth together

with the vehemence of his emotions. After a while, he reflected that

regrets were idle--the future, not the past, was to be considered; and

how he had to deal with the new state of things which had so suddenly

been brought about. All he had thenceforth to trust to, was his mastery

over the fears of a fool. But was he _really_, on consideration, in a

worse position than before? Had Titmouse turned restive at any time

while Gammon possessed the documents in question, could Gammon have had

more effectual control over him than he still had, while he had

succeeded in persuading Titmouse that such documents were still in

existence? Could the legality of the transaction which Gammon sought to

effect, be upheld one whit the more in the one case than in the other,

if Titmouse took it into his head resolutely to resist? Again, could a

transaction of such magnitude, could so serious a diminution of

Titmouse's income, remain long concealed from his father-in-law, Lord

Dreddlington, who, Gammon knew, was every now and then indicating much

anxiety on the subject of his son-in-law's finances? Was it possible to

suppose the earl disposed to acquiesce, in any event, in such an

arrangement? Suppose again Titmouse, in some moment of caprice, or under

the influence of wine, should disclose to the earl the charge on the

estate given to Gammon; and that, either sinking, or revealing, the true

ground on which Gammon rested a claim of such magnitude? Gracious

Heavens! thought Gammon--fancy the earl really made acquainted with the

true state of the case! What effect would so terrible a disclosure

produce upon him?

Here a bold stroke occurred to Mr. Gammon: what if he were himself, as

it were, to take the bull by the horns--to be beforehand with Titmouse,

and apprise the earl of the frightful calamity which had befallen him

and his daughter? Gammon's whole frame vibrated with the bare imagining

of the scene which would probably ensue. But what would be the practical

use to be made of it? The first shock over, if, indeed, the old man

survived it--would not the possession of such a secret give Gammon a

complete hold upon the earl, and render him, in effect, obedient to his

wishes?