Thou wilt easily conceive, my dear reader, who hast been in my
confidence throughout the whole of this history, and whom, though as yet
thou hast cause to esteem me but lightly, I already love as my familiar
and my friend--thou wilt easily conceive my surprise at meeting so
unexpectedly with my old hero of the gambling house. I felt indeed
perfectly stunned at the shock of so singular a change in his
circumstances since I had last met him. My thoughts reverted immediately
to that scene, and to the mysterious connection between Tyrrell and
Glanville. How would the latter receive the intelligence of his enemy's
good fortune? was his vengeance yet satisfied, or through what means
could it now find vent?

A thousand thoughts similar to these occupied and distracted my
attention till morning, when I summoned Bedos into the room to read me
to sleep. He opened a play of Monsieur Delavigne's, and at the beginning
of the second scene I was in the land of dreams.

I woke about two o'clock; dressed, sipped my chocolate, and was on the
point of arranging my hat to the best advantage, when I received the
following note:

"My Dear Pelham,

"Me tibi commendo. I heard this morning, at your hotel, that you were
here; my heart was a house of joy at the intelligence. I called upon you
two hours ago; but, like Antony, 'you revel long o' nights.' Ah, that
I could add with Shakspeare, that you were 'notwithstanding up.' I have
just come from Paris, that umbilicus terrae, and my adventures since I
saw you, for your private satisfaction, 'because I love you, I will let
you know;' but you must satisfy me with a meeting. Till you do, 'the
mighty gods defend you!'

"Vincent."

The hotel from which Vincent dated this epistle, was in the same street
as my own caravansera, and to this hotel I immediately set off. I found
my friend sitting before a huge folio, which he in vain endeavoured to
persuade me that he seriously intended to read. We greeted each other
with the greatest cordiality.

"But how," said Vincent, after the first warmth of welcome had subsided,
"how shall I congratulate you upon your new honours? I was not prepared
to find you grown from a roue into a senator.

"'In gathering votes you were not slack, Now stand as tightly by your
tack, Ne'er show your lug an' fidge your back, An' hum an' haw; But
raise your arm, an' tell your crack Before them a'.'

"So saith Burns; advice which, being interpreted, meaneth, that you must