"You're in my custody, sir," said Vice, walking up to Aubrey, and with an air of matter-of-fact brutality taking hold of his collar with one hand, while in the other he held out his warrant. "If you like to clap a greatcoat on, as it's getting late, you may; but the sooner you're off, out of the way of all this here noise, the better I should say." "For God's sake wait for a few minutes-I have a friend coming," said Aubrey, his wife clinging to his arm. were at present exposed in Vivian | totally indifferent to the anguish they Street. Mrs Aubrey and Kate ear-witnessed. The chief was a wellnestly seconded the kind importuni- known sheriff- officer one VICE; ties of Mr Runnington; and after con- short, fat, bloated, bull-necked; deepsiderable_hesitation, Mr Aubrey con- ly pitted with the small-pox; closesented. It was accordingly arranged cut black hair, almost as coarse as that, Mr Runnington's carriage not that of a hog; while the expression being in town, he should return, of his features was at once callous within an hour, with a hired one; and insolent. Aubrey perceived, at a and that, during the ensuing day, glance, that he had no consideration Mrs Runnington should drive to or mercy to expect at the hands of town for the purpose of bringing such a man as this; and the follower back with her Kate, and little Charles closely resembled his master. and Agnes. This having been_determined upon, Mr Runnington left, promising to return within an hour, when he hoped to find Mr and Mrs Aubrey ready to start, and equipped for a several days' sojourn. As soon as he had left the house, Mr Aubrey's scruples began to revive: it appeared to him, that though it might be for a short time only, still it was, in effect, an absconding from his creditors: and there is no knowing but that his fastidious misgivings, his delicate sense of rectitude, might have led him after all to send off Mrs Aubrey alone, when, poor soul! he was spared the trial of his conscientiousness, by an incident which occurred about half an hour after Mr Runnington's departure. Mrs Aubrey was sitting in the parlour, in travelling dress, fondling little Agnes, and talking earnestly to Kate about the management of the two children, and other matters; while Mr Aubrey, also ready to start, was in the study, selecting a book or two to take with him, when a heavy single knock at the door, unaccompanied by the sound of coach-wheels, nearly paralysed all three of them. Why should the reader's feelings be agonised by details? Suffice it to say, that within a few minutes' time, the wretched and almost heart-broken Aubrey was a second time in custody, and at the suit of Tittlebat Titmouse, Esq., M.P., for the principal sum of ten thousand pounds, and interest for twelve months, at the rate of five pounds per centum per annum ! The two minions of the law into whose hands the unfortunate Aubrey had now fallen, seemed "D-d if I wait a moment, that's flat!" quoth Vice, glancing at the two boxes in the passage, and guessing from them, and the travelling dress of Mrs Aubrey, that he had luckily arrived just in the nick of time to prevent an escape. - "For the love of Heaven, stay only five minutes !" cried Kate, passionately wringing her hands- but she might as well have addressed a blacksmith's anvil, as either of the men who were now masters of her doomed brother's person. ""Tis useless, Kate-'tis in vain, my love!" said he, with a melancholy air; and turning to Vice, who, with his companion, stood at only a few inches' distance from him-" perhaps you will allow me to write down the address of the place you are taking me to?" he inquired, somewhat sternly. "Write away then, and make haste; for, write or not write, you're off in two minutes' time!" Mr Aubrey hastily wrote down in pencil, for Mr Runnington, "VICESqueezum Court, Carey Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; " and then, having hastily drawn on his great-coat even a without taking with him change of linen-for Vice would seem to have got the idea of a rescue into his head, and was, besides, anxious to run not the least risk with a ten thousand pounds' debtor-tore himself from the frenzied embrace of his wife and sister, and quitted the house. Vice had refused even to let his man go in quest of a hackney-coach, or to wait while Fanny ran for one; and the moment they had got into the street, the cries of Mrs Aubrey and Kate yet ringing in Mr Aubrey's ears, Vice put his arm with rough familiarity into that of Mr Aubrey, directing his follower to do the same: and positively, in this ruffianly style, they hurried Mr Aubrey along the whole of the distance between Vivian Street and Squeezum Court; he uttering not one word, but his heart almost bursting. Vice had received his instructions from Mr Spitfire, who was a dashing little practitioner; and perfectly well knowing the value of every day towards the close of term, had got his affidavit of debt prepared, and ready sworn, and everything in readiness, even before the rule had been made absolute against Mr Gammon. As the two burly captors, and their prize, passed, at a smart pace, along the streets, they attracted considerable attention; now and then, even little crowd would follow them for some distance ! Once Mr Aubrey caught the words-"Poor fellow! Forgery, no doubt—he's a dead man in a month!"* a "You pay extra up-stairs," quoth Vice; "which d'ye want?" "I have no money, sir, to spareI know the extortionating practices which 'Oh, come along then!" replied Vice insolently; and, in a minute or two, Mr Aubrey found himself in a tolerably large, but low room, at the back of the house, lit by three or four candles. There were some ten or twelve persons in it, smoking, drinking, reading the newspapers, playing at cards, dice, pitch-farthing, and so forth. All seemed in good spirits, and suspended, for a moment, their various occupations, to scrutinise the new-comer-on whom the door was in a twinkling closed and locked. 'Now, sir! Just in time to cut in," said a thin pale man, his breath redolent of gin, stepping briskly up to him from a table, at which he and two others had just begun to play a rubber. "Now, sir," he continued, in a confident tone, running the edges of the cards rapidly through his fingers, with the air of an adept, and then proffering the pack to Mr Aubrey. "I do not play, sir," replied Aubrey in a low tone. "Better take a card drive dull care away; you'll be devilish dull here without play of some sort!" "I do not play, sir-I certainly shall not," repeated Mr Aubrey peremptorily. Only sixpenny points! - Can't hurt you," he continued flippantly; till Mr Aubrey walked from him with an air of disgust, towards another part of the room. "You're a liar!" said one of two men playing at draughts, to the other, a dispute having arisen about the game, as Mr Aubrey passed them. "And you're a cheat!" was the answer; on which the man so addressed suddenly and violently flung a half-emptied tumbler of brandy-andwater at the other. The missile took effect on the forehead of his companion, who fell stunned from his chair, his forehead, which had been cut open, bleeding profusely. On this there was a general rush towards the spot, with loud cries for help. In | Mr Aubrey, who returned his cordial the midst of this sickening scene, the door was opened by Vice. "Hollo-what's the matter?" said he, locking the door after him, and coming up to the group round the fallen and miserable man who had been struck. "Who did it?" cried he fiercely, on catching sight of the prostrate man. "I did," sullenly answered the perpetrator of the outrage. "He called me a cheat." "You did!" quoth Vice, suddenly grasping him by the collar, as with the hand of a giant, and forcing him, despite his struggling, down to the floor, when he put one knee on his breast, and then shook him till he began to get black in the face. D-n it, Vice, don't murder him!" cried one of the bystanders, all of whom seemed disposed to interfere violently; but at this point, the man who had been struck, and had been lying for some minutes motionless, suddenly began to dash about his arms and legs convulsively, for he had fallen into a fit of epilepsy. The attention of all present was now absorbed by this one dreadful figure; and the man whom Vice had quitted, rose flushed and breathless from the floor, and looked with a face of horror upon the victim of his ungovernable passions. pressure with convulsive energy, but in silence, for his shocked and overcharged feelings forbade him utterance. Mr Runnington looked both annoyed and distressed-for Vice had refused to discharge his prisoner on Mr Runnington's undertaking, telling him the sum was a trifle too large for running any risk; and, in short, he peremptorily refused to do it without a written authority from the undersheriff; and added, he knew it was useless for Mr Runnington to make the application-for they had only a few months before been "let in" for eight hundred pounds in that same way-so that Mr Runnington had better, said Vice, be looking after a good bail-bond. In a word, Vice was inexorable; and a hint of the possibility of Mr Aubrey's flight to the Continent, dropped by Mr Spitfire to the under-sheriff, had caused that functionary to advise Vice "to look sharp after his bird." "At all events let Mr Aubrey be shown into your parlour, Vice," said Mr Runnington, "and I will settle with you when I return. I am just going to the office, to see what I can do with Mr Ridley." "It's no manner of use; and besides, it's ten to one you don't catch him-he's gone to Clapham by this time,” said Vice, looking up at the dusky Dutch clock over the fireplace. "I must get a doctor," quoth Vice, But Mr Runnington was not to be so "presently," approaching the door; easily discouraged, and started off on and in passing Mr Aubrey, who sat his friendly errand; on which Vice down looking exceedingly agitated-led Mr Aubrey up-stairs into his “par"Oh-here you are!" said he : come you along with me.' "I hope this poor man will be properly attended to -interposed Mr Aubrey, anxiously. lour," telling him, as they went along, that there were only two other "gentlemen" there, and so "them three could make it comfortable to one another, if they liked." Vice added, that as he had only one double-bedded room at liberty, they must agree among themselves which should sleep on the sofa- or perhaps take it by "That's my look-out, not yours," replied Vice rudely—"come you along with me, I tell you!" and, unlocking the door, he motioned out Mr Aubrey; and, after sending off a man for a sur-turns. geon, led Mr Aubrey into a kind of office-where his hands were instantly grasped by those of Mr Runnington, who had been there some five minutes. He appeared an angel, in the eyes of On entering the parlour two figures were visible; one that of a tall, pale, emaciated, gentlemanly person of about forty, who lay on the sofa languidly smoking a cigar, more ap In a trice, he was nowhere to be seen or heard of, but at length intelligence of his movements having been obtained by one of his numerous distracted victims, led to his apprehension in the way which has been already mention knew nothing-but, nevertheless, he was somewhat struck with the man's countenance and manner. With what awful interest would Mr Aubrey have regarded him, had he known that the miserable being before him was then determined upon self-destruction-and that within two days' time he would actually accomplish his frightful purpose !-For he was found in bed, a ghastly object, his head almost severed from his body. In the other-a ruined young man of birth and station-Mr Aubrey was infinitely shocked at presently recognising the features of one whom he had slightly known at Oxford. This was a member of an ancient and parently to assuage pain than for the | was in a ferment. Astonishment prepurpose of mere enjoyment. The vailed at the Exchange. Who could other was a portly greyhaired man, have thought it? asked everybody. apparently about fifty, and also of gentlemanly appearance. He was standing with his back to the fireplace-one hand thrust into his waistcoat, and the other holding a tumbler, which he raised to his lips, as Vice entered, and having drained it, re-ed. Of all this, Mr Aubrey, of course, quested him to replenish it. "Twas the third tumbler of strong brandyand-water which he had despatched that evening; and his restless and excited eye, and voluble utterance, testified to the influence of what he had been drinking. On Vice's retiring, this gentleman began to address Mr Aubrey in a rapid and somewhat incoherent strain-telling him of the accident which had that morning befallen him; for that Vice had laid his rough hand upon him, just as he was embarking in an Indiaman, off Blackwall, to bid farewell to this "cursed country 19 for ever. This man had been a thriving merchant in the city; and, for a series of years, universally respected. He had mar-honourable family, and born to a very ried a fashionable wife; and their ambition and absurd extravagance, combined with losses, originating in a want of confidence in him, on the part of his mercantile connections, from his ostentation, irregularities, and inattention to business, drove him to gambling speculations. Unfortunate there, he took to courses of downright dishonesty; availing himself of his character and power as trustee, executor, and otherwise, to draw out of the funds, from time to time, large sums of money, to the utter ruin of ten or twelve unfortunate families, whose deceased relatives had quitted life with implicit confidence in his integrity! The guilty splendour thus secured him, lasted for some few years, when an accident set him suddenly wrong; a beautiful girl, for whom he was sole trustee, and every farthing of whose fortune he had appropriated to his own purposes, applied to him for the immediate settlement of her property. The next morning he had stopped payment; Mincing Lane large fortune, which he had totally dissipated in every conceivable mode of extravagance and profligacy, both at home and abroad, and moreover, in doing so, had also ruined his constitution. He had taken honours at Oxford, and was expected to have become eminent in parliament. At college, however, his tendency to profligacy rapidly developed itself. He became notorious for his debaucheries, and made ostentation of his infidelity. He had returned from France only a few days before, in an advanced stage of consumption; and having been pounced upon by one of his numerous infuriate creditors, hither he had been brought the evening before and would be the next morning lodged in the Fleet, as he could procure no bail; and there he might, possibly, live till he could apply to take the benefit of the insolvent act. Even if he should be successful in this last stroke, he could not possibly survive it beyond a few weeks! And he had nothing then to look forward to, but a pauper's burial for his family had long sternly discarded him. He at length recognised Mr Aubrey; and raising himself up on the sofa, extended his wasted hand to his fellow-collegian, who shook it kindly-much shocked at his appearance. What a marvellous difference between the characters of these two men! After about half an hour's absence, Mr Runnington returned, much dispirited. Mr Ridley was not to be found; and, consequently, Mr Aubrey must remain in his wretched quarters all night, and till probably an advanced period of the ensuing day till, in short, Mr Runnington should have obtained responsible sureties for his putting in bail to the action.* Having whispered a few words to Mr Aubrey in the adjoining room, and slipped a five-pound note into his hand, Mr Runnington took his leave, pledging himself to lose not a moment in procuring his release; and charged with innumerable fond expressions to Mrs Aubrey, to Kate, and his children -whom Mr Runnington promised to see that night. "This is almost the bitterest moment of my life," faltered *See APPENDIX. poor Aubrey; "it is indeed very hard to bear!" and he wrung Mr Runnington's hand-that gentleman being almost as much affected as his unfortunate client; who, however, on being left by Mr Runnington, felt grateful indeed to the Almighty for so powerful and valuable a friend. Neither Mr Aubrey nor Mr Somerville—that was the name of his early acquaintance-quitted the sittingroom, during the whole of the night; but as their companion retired early to the adjoining apartment, and immediately fell into heavy sleep, they at length entered into conversation -of a melancholy, but deeply interesting, and I may even add instructive character. Mr Aubrey's notes of it are by me; but I will not risk fatiguing the indulgent reader's attention. When the chill grey morning broke, it found the two prisoners still earnestly talking together; but, shortly afterwards, nature yielded, and they both fell asleep - Mr Aubrey, with an humble and fervent inward prayer, commending those dear beings who were absent to the protection of Heaven, and imploring it also for himself. CHAPTER VI. KATE'S DIAMOND NECKLACE; MR RUNNINGTON'S MUNIFICENCE; LADY STRATTON'S £15,000 POLICY, WHICH GAMMON ANGLES FOR. IMMEDIATELY on quitting Mr Aubrey, Mr Runnington, according to his promise, went direct to Vivian Street, and the scene which he had endeavoured to prepare himself for encountering, on their finding him return unaccompanied by Mr Aubrey, was heart-rending. Alas! how confidently had they reckoned upon an issue similar to that which had so happily occurred in the morning!-'Twas the first time-the very first time-since their troubles, that Mr and Mrs Aubrey had been separated for one single night! And he was now the inmate of a prison, perhaps enduring indignity, and grievous discomfort, to aggravate his mental sufferings. Ah, how he would be thinking of those from whom he had been so cruelly separated! Mrs Aubrey and Kate sat up the livelong night-one memorable and miserable |