e circumstances are so extraordinary that
I venture to think they excuse him. Will you allow us to speak to you
privately?"

Sir Peter, with more apologies addressed to his visitors, opened the
door which communicated with his study. Mr. Stone took Mr. Cosway's
arm, and led him out of the room. He noticed no one, spoke to no one--he
moved mechanically, like a man walking in his sleep.

After an unendurable interval of nearly an hour's duration, Sir Peter
returned alone to the breakfast-room. Mr. Cosway and Mr. Stone had
already taken their departure for London, with their host's entire
approval.

"It is left to my discretion," Sir Peter proceeded, "to repeat to you
what I have heard in my study. I will do so, on one condition--that you
all consider yourselves bound in honor not to mention the true names and
the real places, when you tell the story to others."

Subject to this wise reservation, the narrative is here repeated by
one of the company. Considering how he may perform his task to the best
advantage, he finds that the events which preceded and followed Mr.
Cosway's disastrous marriage resolve themselves into certain well-marked
divisions. Adopting this arrangement, he proceeds to relate:

_The First Epoch in Mr. Cosway's Life._

The sailing of her Majesty's ship _Albicore_ was deferred by the severe
illness of the captain. A gentleman not possessed of political
influence might, after the doctor's unpromising report of him, have been
superseded by another commanding officer. In the present case, the
Lords of the Admiralty showed themselves to be models of patience and
sympathy. They kept the vessel in port, waiting the captain's recovery.

Among the unimportant junior officers, not wanted on board under these
circumstances, and favored accordingly by obtaining leave to wait for
orders on shore, were two young men, aged respectively twenty-two and
twenty-three years, and known by the names of Cosway and Stone. The
scene which now introduces them opens at a famous seaport on the south
coast of England, and discloses the two young gentlemen at dinner in a
private room at their inn.

"I think that last bottle of champagne was corked," Cosway remarked.
"Let's try another. You're nearest the bell, Stone. Ring."

Stone rang, under protest. He was the elder of the two by a year, and he
set an example of discretion.

"I am afraid we are running up a terrible bill," he said. "We have been
here more than three w