On reaching the Earl's mansion, to Gammon's surprise a hackney-coach was driving off from before the door; and, on entering the house, guess his amazement at hearing, from the agitated porter, that Lady Cecilia had just gone up to the drawing-room, in terrible trouble. Gammon darted upstairs, unable to imagine by what means Lady Cecilia could have been apprised of the event. He found her in out-door costume, sitting sobbing on the sofa, attended anxiously by Miss Macspleuchan. The plain fact was, that she had just been driven out of her own house by a couple of executions, put in that morning by two creditors of Titmouse, by whom they had been treated, the evening before, very insolently! Mr Gammon's agitated appearance alarmed Miss Macspleuchan, but was not noticed by her more distressed companion; and, as soon as Mr Gammon found the means of doing it unobserved, he made a sign to Miss Macspleuchan that he had something of great importance to communicate to her. Leaving the Lady Cecilia, a short time afterwards, in the care of her maid, Miss Macspleuchan followed Mr Gammon down stairs into the library, and was in a few hurried words apprised of the illness of the Earl of the cause of it—the sudden failure of an important speculation in which the Earl was interested, and that his lordship would be brought home in about an hour's time or so, in company with a medical man. Miss Macspleuchan was for a moment quite overcome; but, being a woman of superior strength of character, she soon rallied, and immediately addressed herself to the necessity of warding off any sudden and violent shock from Lady Cecilia, especially with reference to her delicate state of health. It was absolutely necessary, however, that her ladyship should be promptly apprised of the painful occurrence, lest an infinitely greater shock should be inflicted on her by the Earl's arrival. Gently and gradually as Miss Macspleuchan broke the intelligence to Lady Cecilia, it occasioned her falling into a swoon-for it will be borne in mind that her nerves had been before sufficiently shaken. On recovering, she requested Mr Gammon to be sent for, and with considerable agitation inquired into the occasion and manner of the Earl's illness. As soon as he had mentioned that it was a paragraph in the day's paper that first occasioned in the Earl the agitation which had induced such serious consequences "What! in the papers already? Is it about that wretch Mr Titmouse?" she inquired, with a languid air of disgust. "No indeed, Lady Cecilia, Mr Titmouse has nothing to do with it," replied Gammon, with a slight inward spasm; and, just as he had succeeded in giving her to understand the cause to which he chose to refer the Earl's illness, carriage-wheels were heard, followed in a second or two by a tremendous thundering at the door, which made even Gammon almost start from his chair, and threw Lady Cecilia into a second swoon. It was providential, perhaps, that it had that effect; for had she gone to the windows, and seen her insensible father, with care and difficulty, lifted out of his carriage-his shirt-collar, and a white neck-handkerchief, thrown round his shoulders, partially crimsoned; and in that way, amid a little crowd which had suddenly gathered round, carried into the house, and borne up-stairs to his bedchamber-it might have had a very serious effect, indeed, upon her ladyship. Gammon stepped for an instant to the window he saw the poor old peer in the state I have described, and the sight blanched his cheeks. Leaving her ladyship in the hands of Miss Macspleuchan, and her attendants, he followed into the Earl's bedroom; and was a little relieved, some quarter of an hour afterwards, at finding, that, though the Earl was much exhausted with the fatigue of removal, he was in a more satisfactory state than could have been anticipated. As his lordship's own physician, who had been summoned instantly on the Earl's arrival home, intimated that a little ture, after an anxious inquiry as to repose was essential to his lordship, Lady Cecilia - intending to return and that no one should remain in the before night, personally to ascertain room whose services were not indis- the state of the Earl and her lady. pensable, Gammon took his depar- ship. CHAPTER III. THE EARL OF DREDDLINGTON'S BED-SIDE; AND GAMMON'S INTERVIEW WITH THE DUKE OF TANTALLAN. A MIGHTY sigh escaped from the oppressed bosom of Gammon, as soon as, having quitted the house of the Earl of Dreddlington, he found himself in the street, alone. He walked for some minutes straight on, irresolute as to whither he should direct his steps to his own chambers, to the office in Hatton Garden, or to Mr Titmouse's residence in Park Lane. At length he determined on returning, in the first instance, to his own chambers, and bent his steps accordingly; his mind so absorbed in thought, that he scarcely saw any one whom he met or passed. Here was a state of things, thought he, which he had brought about! And what must be his own course now? For a moment or two he was in a state of feeling which we may compare to that of a person who, with ignorant curiosity, has set in motion the machinery of some prodigious engine, which it required but a touch to effect-and then stands suddenly paralysed-bewildered confounded at the complicated movements going on all around him, and perhaps the alarming noises accompanying them not daring to move a hair's-breadth in any direction for fear of destruction. He soon, however, recovered himself, and be gan seriously to contemplate the perilous position in which he was undoubtedly placed. Here was Lord Dreddlington, in the first place, involved to a most alarming extent, in respect of his connection with one of the bubble companies, into an alliance with which it was Gammon alone who had seduced him. But he quickly lost sight of that, as a light matter compared with what had subsequently happened, and the prodigious consequences to which it might possibly lead-and that, too, immediately. This crisis had been precipitated by an accident-an occurrence which he felt—and that, too, with a sort of consolation-that no man could have foreseen or calculated upon. Certainly it might all be traced to his own oversight in leaving the conveyance of his rent-charge, so all-important a document, upon his table, though for only a minute or two's absence; for he had not quitted his chambers more than five minutes before he had reentered them, finding the Earl of Dreddlington there-of all persons in the world the last whom he would have wished to be aware of the existence of such an instrument. Who could have imagined-calculated on such an occurrence? Never before had the Earl visited him at his own private residence; and to have come just precisely at the moment—And yet, thought Gammon, almost starting back a step or two-when one came to think of it-what was more likely than that, on seeing the para graph in the morning paper, his lordship should have done the very thing he had, and driven down to Mr Gammon for an explanation? Bah! thought Mr Gammon, and stamped his foot on the pavement. [Ay, Satan, it was a somewhat slippery trick which you had played this staunch acute friend of yours!] send would that be! All straight then, to the end of the chapter! How near it was, this morning!-If I had but suffered those two boobies to wrangle together till it was too late!"-A little colour came into Mr Gammon's cheek at this point-as if he felt that possibly he was then going a trifle too far, in entertaining such very-decisive-wishes and regrets: still he could not dismiss the reflection; nay, what was more probable, than that so desperate a shock, suffered by a man of his advanced years, might be only the precursor of a second and fatal fit of apoplexy?— Gammon recollected, hopefully, that Doctor Bailey had expressed some fears of that sort to-day. If Mr Gammon had seen the watchful eyes at that moment settled upon him, by two persons who were approaching him, and who passed him unobserved; and could have dreamed of the errand which had brought those two persons into that part of the town-it might have set his busy brain upon quite a new track of harassing conjecture, and apprehension. But he was far too intently occupied with his thoughts to notice any one, as he walked slowly down Holborn; and some five minutes afterwards, having got to within a hundred yards of Saffron Hill, he was startled out of his meditations by hearing a voice calling out his name-and looking towards the middle of the street, whence the sound came, beheld Mr Titmouse, beckoning to him eagerly, out of a hackney-coach, which was slowly driving in the contrary direction, and at Titmouse's bidding, drew up to the kerb-stone. "But the thing is done; and what am I now to do? What can I do? First of all, there's Titmouse-where is that little miscreant at this moment? Will he follow his wife to Grosvenor Square? Will the Earl have recovered, before I can see Titmouse, sufficiently to recollect what has happened? Will they allow him to be admitted into the sick-chamber? Suppose his presence should remind the Earl of what he has this day heard? Should he recover his senses -what course will he take? Will he acquaint his daughter that she is married to a vulgar bastard-oh, frightful!-she, and he, the proudest two persons, perhaps, living! Will they spurn him from them with loathing and horror?-expose the little impostor to the world?- and take God knows what steps against me, for the share I have had in the matter?-Oh, impossible !— inconceivable! They can never blazon their own degradation to the world! Or will Lord Dreddlington have discretion and self-command sufficient to keep the blighting secret to himself? Will he rest satisfied with my statement, or insist on conclusive proof and corroboration? Will he call for vouchers-ah!" here he ground his teeth together, for he recollected the trick which Titmouse had played him, in destroying the precious documents already spoken of. "If the little wretch do not hear of what has happened from any one else, shall I tell him that I have communicated his secret to Lord Dreddlington? Fancy him and his wife meeting, after they know all!-or him, and the Earl! Suppose the Earl should die- and without having disclosed this secret "I have heard of it, sir," replied to any one? Oh,"-Gammon here Gammon gloomily-" and I have, in heaved a deep sigh-"what a god-my turn, something of far greater "Oh-I say! Mr Gammon !-'pon my life-here's a precious mess!Such a devil of a row!"—commenced Titmouse alarmedly, speaking in a low voice through the coach window. "" What, sir? inquired Gammon sternly. "Why, eh? heard of it? Lady Cicely consequence to tell you. Let the "No, sir!" replied Gammon, almost fiercely, and walked away, leaving Titmouse in a pretty fright. Now, shall I tell him, or not?" thought Gammon and after some minutes anxious consideration, determined upon doing so-and on threatening him, that if he did not change his courses, so far as money went, he-Gammon-would instantly expose his real character and circumstances, to the whole world. What might be the actual extent of his embarrassments, Gammon knew not, nor was he aware of the fact, that Titmouse was at that moment getting into the hands of swindling money-lenders. In point of dress and manners, he was the same that he had ever been, since fortune had given him the means of dressing according to his fancy, and the fashion; but any one looking at his face, could see in the slightly bloodshot eye, its jaded expression, and the puffy appearance of his face, the results of systematic excess and debauchery. When Gammon joined him at his chambers, and told him the events of the day, Titmouse exhibited affright, that to any other beholder than one so troubled as Gammon, would have appeared ludicrous; but as that gentleman's object was to subdue and terrify his companion into an implicit submission to his will, he dismissed him for the day, simply enjoining him to keep away from Grosvenor Square and Park Lane till an early hour in the ensuing morning-by which time events, which might have happened in the interval, might determine the course which Gammon should dictate to Titmouse. At that time Gammon was strongly inclined to insist on Titmouse's going to the Continent for a little while, to be out of harm's way; but, in fact, he felt dreadfully embarrassed to know how to dispose of Titmouse-regarding him with feel ings, perhaps, akin to some of those with which Frankenstein beheld his monster. The remedies resorted to so speedily after Lord Dreddlington's seizure at Mr Gammon's chambers, had materially counteracted the effects of the terrible shock which he had sustained; and which, but for such interference, would in all probability have proved fatal. Shortly after being removed to his own house, he sank into tranquil and salutary sleep, which continued, with a few interruptions, for several hours-during which his brain recovered itself, in a considerable measure, from the sudden and temporary pressure which it had experienced. Towards seven o'clock in the evening, there were sitting, on one side of the bed, Miss Macspleuchan, and on the other, the Lady Cecilia-who also had rallied from the shock which she had sustained, and now, occasionally shedding tears, sat gazing in melancholy silence at the countenance of her father. She was certainly a miserable young woman-was Lady Cecilia-ignorant though she might be, of the real extent of disaster consequent upon her alliance with Titmouse, whom she had long hated and despised, on all occasions avoiding his company. Their almost total estrangement was indeed notorious in society. His lordship's physician had quitted the chamber for a few minutes, to make arrangements for continuing with him during the night; and neither Miss Macspleuchan nor Lady Cecilia had spoken for some time. At length the Earl, who had become rather restless, faintly muttered at intervals to himself the words "Bubble-villain-Blackwall "You see," whispered Miss Macspleuchan, "what he's thinking of. He dined with those people, you know." Lady Cecilia nodded in silence. Presently his lordship resumed— "Account Closed!-Call on Mr Gammon-Is Mr Gammon at home?" The current of his recollections had now brought him to the point of danger; and after pausing for a moment, a troubled expression came over his - face he was evidently realising the | Then the Earl sighed; and, opening commencement of the terrible scene his eyes, looked full at Lady Cecilia, and with a more natural expression. "Kiss me, Cecilia," said he gently; and raising both his arms a little, while she leaned forward and kissed his forehead, he feebly placed them round her, but they almost immediately sank on the bed again, as if he had not strength to keep them extended. in Mr Gammon's room then he seemed to have lost the train of his thoughts for a while, as his features slowly resumed their previous placidity; but the troubled aspect presently returned: his lips were suddenly compressed, and his brow corrugated, as if with the emotion of anger or indignation. Monstrous! Two thousand pounds?" He spoke these words in a much stronger voice than those preceding. 'Oh, dear!-I should have thought his lordship had lost much more than that," whispered Miss Macspleuchan in a low tone. "Insist!-Titmouse-Titmouse "his lips slightly quivered, and he paused for a while. Shocking! What will she "- -an expression of agony came over his face. "Poor papa! He's evidently heard it all!" whispered Lady Cecilia faintly. "Hush!" exclaimed Miss Macspleuchan, raising her finger to her lips-adding presently, "if he goes on in this way, I shall go and bring in Dr Whittington.' "Cecilia!-Cecilia!"-continued the Earl; and suddenly opening his eyes, gazed forward, and on each side, with a dull confused stare. Then he closed them, muttering-"I certainly thought Mr Gammon was here!" Shortly afterwards he opened them again; and his head being inclined towards the side where Lady Cecilia was sitting, they fell upon, and seemed to be arrested by her countenance. After gazing at her for some moments very sorrowfully, he again closed his eyes, murmuring-" Poor Cecilia!" "I really think, my dear, you'd bet ter leave the room," faltered Miss Macspleuchan; imagining, from the state of her own feelings, that those of Lady Cecilia would be overpowering her for nothing could be more soul-touching than the tone in which the Earl had last spoken. "No; he's asleep again," replied Lady Cecilia calmly-and for a quar ter of an hour all was again silent. "We will live together, Cecilia, again," murmured the Earl. "Dear papa, don't distress yourself; if you do, I really must go away from you." "No, no; you must not, Cecilia," murmured the Earl sadly and faintly, and shaking his head. "Have you seen him to day?" he presently asked, with a little more energy, as if he were becoming more and more thoroughly awake, and aware of his position; and there was a marked difference in the expression of his eye-partly perplexed, partly alarmed. "No, papa-I left the moment it happened, and came here; and have been here ever since. Do, dear papa, be calm!" added Lady Cecilia, with perfect composure. "There! I am gone blind, again,' exclaimed the Earl suddenly, and raised his trembling hands to his eyes. "So you knew it all ?" said he presently, tremulously removing his hands, and looking up, as if the momentary obscuration of his sight had ceased. "Oh yes, papa, of course! How could I help it? Try to go to sleep again, dear papa." There was a faint dash of petulance in her manner. They were at terrible cross purposes. His eye remained fixed steadily on that of his daughter. "Is it not horrible, Cecilia ?" said he, with a shudder. "Dear рара, I don't know what you mean," replied Cecilia, startled by the tone of his voice, and the look of his eye. There was nothing wild or unnatural about it. The eye seemed that of a man in his full senses, but horrified by some frightful recollection or other. |