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,

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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?

CHAPTER IV.

THE object which Gammon had originally proposed to himself, and unwaveringly fixed his eye upon amidst all the mazy tortuosities of his course, since taking up the cause of Tittlebat Titmouse, was his own permanent establishment in the upper sphere of society; conscious that, above all, could he but once emerge into political life, his energies would ensure him speedy distinction. With an independent income of £2000 a-year, he felt that he should be standing on sure ground. But even above and beyond this, there was one dazzling object of his hopes and wishes, which, unattained, would, on several accounts, render all others comparatively valueless-a union with Miss Aubrey. His heart fluttered within him at the bare notion of such an event. What effect would be produced upon that beautiful, that pure, high-minded, but haughty creature-for haughty to him had Kate Aubrey ever appeared-by a knowledge that he, Gammon, possessed the means-Bah! accursed Titmouse !—thought Gammon, his cheek suddenly blanching as he recollected that through him those means no longer existed.—Stay!—Unless, indeed-* * *-which would, however, be all but impossible -perilous in the extreme! Absorbed with these reflections, he started on being accosted by the footman of the Earl of Dreddlington; who, observing Gammon, had ordered his carriage to draw up, to enable his lordship to speak to him. It was the end of Oxford Street nearest to the City.

"Sir-Mr Gammon-good-day, sir!"-commenced the Earl, with a slight appearance of disappointment, and even displeasure, pray, has any thing unfortunate happened"

"Unfortunate! I beg your lordship's pardon"- interrupted Gammon, colouring visibly, and gazing with surprise at the Earl.

"You do not generally, Mr Gammon, forget your appointments. The Marquis, I, and the gentlemen of the Direction, have been waiting for you in vain at the office for a whole hour."

"Good Heavens! my lord-I am confounded!" said Gammon, suddenly recollecting the engagement he had made with the Earl: "I have forgotten every thing in a sudden fit of indisposition, with which I have been seized at the house of a client at Bayswater. I can but apologize, my lord”.

"Sir, say no more; your looks are more than sufficient; and I beg that you will do me the honour to accept a seat in my carriage, and tell me whither you will be driven. I'm at your service, Mr Gammon, for at least an hour; longer than that I cannot say, as I have to be at the House; you remember our two bills have to be forwarded a stage"

Since his lordship was as peremptory as politeness would permit him to be, in got Gammon, and named THE Gunpowder AND FRESHWATER COMPANY'S Offices, in Lothbury, in the hopes of finding yet some of the gentlemen whom he had so sadly disappointed; and thither, having turned his horses' heads, drove the coachman.

"Sir," said the Earl, after much enquiry into the nature of Gammon's recent indisposition, "by the way, what can be the meaning of my Lord Tadpole's opposition to the second reading of our bill, No. 2?"

"We offered his lordship no shares, my lord-that is the secret. I saw him a few days ago, and he sounded me upon the subject; but I'm sure your lordship will understand—in a company such as ours, my lord "

"Sir, I quite comprehend you, and I applaud your vigilant discrimination. Sir, in affairs of this description, in order to secure the confidence of the public, it is a matter of the last importance that none but men of the highest-by the way, Mr Gammon, how are the GOLDEN EGG shares? Would you advise me to sell ".

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Hold, my lord, a little longer. We are going, in a few days' time, to publish some important information concerning the prospects of the undertaking, of the most brilliant character, and which cannot fail to raise the value of the shares, and then will be the time to sell! Has your lordship signed the deed yet?" Sir, I signed it last Saturday, in company with my Lord Marmalade. I should not like to part with my interest in the company, you see- -Mr Gammon-hastily; but I am in your

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hands"

"My lord, I am ever watchful of your lordship's interests."

By the way, will you dine with me to-morrow? We shall be quite alone, and I am very anxious to obtain an accurate account of the present state of Mr Titmouse's property; for, to tell you the truth, I have heard of one or two little matters that occasion me some uneasiness."

"Can any thing be more unfortunate, my lord? I am engaged out to dinner for the next three days-if indeed I shall be well enough to go to any of them," said Gammon with an agitation which could have escaped the observation of few persons except the Earl of Dreddlington.

"Sir-I exceedingly regret to hear it; let me trust that some day next week I shall be more fortunate. There are several matters on which I am desirous of consulting you. When did you last see Mr Titmouse?"

"Let me see, my Lord-I-don't think I've seen him since Monday last, when I casually met him in one of the committeerooms of the House of Commons, where, by the way, he seems a pretty frequent attendant."

"I'm glad to hear it," replied the Earl, somewhat gravely; and, as Gammon imagined, with a slight expression of surprise, or even distrust. Gammon therefore fancied that the Earl had received recent intelligence of some of the wild pranks of his hopeful son-in-law, and wished to make enquiries concerning them of Gammon.

"Will you, sir,-by the way-have the goodness to write at your earliest convenience to General Epaulette's solicitors, and tell them I wish to pay off immediately £12,000 of his

mortgage? Oblige me, sir, by attending to this matter without delay; for I met the General the other day at dinner-and -I might possibly have been mistaken, sir-but I fancied he looked at me as if he wished me to feel myself his debtor. Do you understand me, sir? It annoyed me; and I wish to get out of his hands as soon as possible."

"Rely upon it, my lord, it shall be attended to this very day," replied Gammon, scarcely able-troubled though he was-to suppress a smile at the increasing symptoms of purse-pride in the Earl, whose long-empty coffers were being so rapidly and unexpectedly replenished by the various enterprises into which, under Gammon's auspices, his lordship had entered with equal energy and sagacity. While the Earl was speaking, the carriage drew up at the door of the company's office, and Gammon alighted. The Earl, however, finding that all the gentlemen whom he had left there, had quitted, drove off westward, at a smart pace, and reached the House in time for the matters which he had mentioned to Mr Gammon. That gentleman soon dropped the languid demeanour he had worn in Lord Dreddlington's presence, and addressed himself with energy and decision to a great number of important and difficult matters demanding his attention-principally connected with several of the public companies in which he was interested—and one of which, in particular, required the greatest possible care and tact, in order to prevent its bursting-prematurely. He had also to get through a considerable arrear of professional affairs, and to write several letters on the private business of Lord Dreddlington, and of Mr Titmouse-respectively. Nay, he had one or two still more urgent calls upon his attention. First came the action against himself for £4000 penalties, for bribery, arising out of the Yatton election, and as to which he had received, that afternoon, a very gloomy "opinion" from Mr Lynx, who was 'advising' him on his defence. Much, in the same plight, also, were Messrs Bloodsuck, Mudflint, and Woodlouse, for whom Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap were defending similar actions; and who were worried out of their lives by daily letters from their terror-stricken clients, as to the state, progress, and