is honour among thieves," thought I, and so I took out the sum
mentioned, and gave it to him. In good earnest, though I disliked
the man, his threadbare garments and altered appearance moved me to
compassion. While he was pocketing the money, which he did with the most
unequivocal delight, a tall figure passed us rapidly. We both turned at
the same instant, and recognised Glanville. He had not gone seven yards
beyond us, before we observed his steps, which were very irregular,
pause suddenly; a moment afterwards he fell against the iron rails of
an area; we hastened towards him, he was apparently fainting. His
countenance was perfectly livid, and marked with the traces of extreme
exhaustion. I sent Thornton to the nearest public-house for some water;
before he returned, Glanville had recovered.
"All--all--in vain," he said, slowly and unconsciously, "death is the
only Lethe."
He started when he saw me. I made him lean on my arm, and we walked on
slowly.
"I have already heard of your speech," said I. Glanville smiled with the
usual faint and sicklied expression, which made his smile painful even
in its exceeding sweetness.
"You have also already seen its effects; the excitement was too much for
me."
"It must have been a proud moment when you sat down," said I.
"It was one of the bitterest I ever felt--it was fraught with the memory
of the dead. What are all honours to me now?--O God! O God! have mercy
upon me!"
And Glanville stopped suddenly, and put his hand to his temples.
By this time Thornton had joined us. When Glanville's eyes rested upon
him, a deep hectic rose slowly and gradually over his cheeks. Thornton's
lip curled with a malicious expression. Glanville marked it, and his
brow grew on the moment as black as night.
"Begone!" he said, in a loud voice, and with a flashing eye, "begone
instantly; I loathe the very sight of so base a thing."
Thornton's quick, restless eye, grew like a living coal, and he bit his
lip so violently that the blood gushed out. He made, however, no other
answer than--"You seem agitated to-night, Sir Reginald; I wish your
speedy restoration to better health. Mr. Pelham, your servant."
Glanville walked on in silence till we came to his door: we parted
there; and for want of any thing better to do, I sauntered towards the
M--Hell. There were only about ten or twelve persons in the rooms, and
all were gathered round the hazard table--I looked on silently, seeing
th
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