A surgeon was called in, who at once perceived that the attack was one
of apoplexy. For that night and part of the next day his recovery
was almost hopeless; for, though repeatedly bled, he gave no signs of
returning animation, but lay heaving, at intervals, long, heavy sighs,
and respiring with an effort that seemed to shake the strong frame in
convulsions.

Youth and bold remedies, however, favored him, and on the third morning
he awoke, weak and weary, like one who had just reached convalescence
after a long and terrible fever. His features, his gestures, his very
voice, were all altered; there was a debility about him--mental and
physical--that seemed like premature decay; and they who knew the bold,
high-spirited man of a few days before could never have recognized him
in the simple-looking, vacant, and purposeless invalid who sat there, to
all seeming, neither noticing nor caring what happened around him. It is
true, indeed, few essayed the comparison. Of those who visited him,
the greater number were creditors curious to speculate on his recovery;
there were a couple of reporters, too, for gossiping newspapers desirous
of coining a paragraph to amuse the town; but no friends,--not a man of
those who dined, and drank, and drove, and played with him. In fact his
fate was soon forgotten even in the very circles of which he had been
the centre; nor did his name ever meet mention, save in some stale
report of a bankruptcy examination, or a meeting of creditors to arrange
for the liquidation of his debts.

The wasteful, heedless extravagance of his mode of living was urged even
to vindictiveness by his creditors, so that for three years he remained
a prisoner in the Fleet; and it was only when they saw he had no feeling
of either shame or regret at his imprisonment that an arrangement was
at last agreed to, and he was liberated,--set free to mix in a world in
which he had not one tie to bind, or one interest to attach him!

From that hour forth none ever knew how far his memory retained the
circumstances of his past life; he never certainly mentioned them to
any of those with whom he formed companionship, nor did he renew
acquaintance with one among his former friends. By great exertions on
the part of his lawyers, almost a thousand a year was secured to him
from the wreck of his great fortune,--the proceeds of a small estate
that had belonged to his mother.

On this income he lived some time in total seclusion, wh