that
state, I was forced to comply: and, would you believe it, as I left the
room, I heard high words. Yes, doctor, as I hope to be saved, words of
anger from her at that awful juncture."

The latter part of this speech was uttered in a low tone, and very
mysterious manner. The speakers drew so closely together, that the bowls
of their pipes formed a common centre, whence the stems radiated. A
momentary silence ensued, during which each man puffed for very life.
Small next knocked the ashes from his tube, and began to replenish it,
coughing significantly. Mr. Coates expelled a thin, curling stream of
vapor from a minute orifice in the corner of his almost invisible mouth,
and arched his eyebrows in a singular manner, as if he dared not trust
the expression of his thoughts to any other feature. Titus shook his
huge head, and, upon the strength of a bumper which he swallowed,
mustered resolution enough to unburden his bosom.

"By my sowl," said he, mysteriously, "I've seen enough lately to
frighten any quiet gentleman out of his senses. I'll not get a wink of
sleep, I fear, for a week to come. There must have been something
dreadful upon Sir Piers's mind; sure--nay, there's no use in mincing the
matter with _you_--in a word, then, some crime too deep to be divulged."

"Crime!" echoed Coates and Small, in a breath.

"Ay, crime!" repeated Titus. "Whist! not so loud, lest any one should
overhear us. Poor Sir Piers, he's dead now. I'm sure you both loved him
as I did, and pity and pardon him if he was guilty; for certain am I
that no soul ever took its flight more heavily laden than did that of
our poor friend. Och! it was a terrible ending. But you shall hear _how_
he died, and judge for yourselves. When I returned to his room after
Lady Rookwood's departure, I found him quite delirious. I knew death was
not far off then. One minute he was in the chase, cheering on the
hounds. 'Halloo! tallyho!' cried he: 'who clears that fence?--who swims
that stream?' The next, he was drinking, carousing, and hurrahing, at
the head of his table. 'Hip! hip! hip!'--as mad, and wild, and frantic
as ever he used to be when wine had got the better of him; and then all
of a sudden, in the midst of his shouting, he stopped, exclaiming,
'What! here again?--who let her in?--the door is fast--I locked it
myself. Devil! why did you open it?--you have betrayed me--she will
poison me--and I cannot resist. Ha! another! Who--who is that?--her face
i