re. "A little time, a sleepless night or
two, the uncertainty of that future which to every man past fifty gets
another tinge of black with each year, will do the business, and I 'll
have him suing for the conditions he would now reject."

Never yet, however, had time been a greater object with Linton. The host
of creditors whom he had staved off for some months back--some by paying
large sums on account; others by the assurance that he was on the eve
of a rich marriage--would, at the very first semblance of his defeat,
return and overwhelm him. Many of his debts were incurred to hush up
play transactions, which, if once made public, his station in society
would be no longer tenable. Of his former associates, more than one
lived upon him by the mere menace of the past. Some were impatient, too,
at the protracted game he played with Roland, and reproached him with
not "finishing him off" long before, by cards and the dice-box. Others
were indignant that they were not admitted to the share of the spoil,
with all the contingent advantages of mixing in a class where they might
have found the most profitable acquaintances. To hold all these in
check had been a difficult matter, and few save himself could have
accomplished it To restrain them much longer was impossible. With these
thoughts he walked along, scarce noticing the long string of
carriages which now filled the avenue, and hastened towards the house.
Occasionally a thought would cross his mind, "What if the bullet had
already done its work? What if that vast estate were now once more
thrown upon the wide ocean of litigation? Would Corrigan prefer his
claim again, or would some new suitor spring up?--and if so, what
sum could recompense the possession of that pardon by which the whole
property might be restored to its ancient owners?" Amid all these
canvassings, no feeling arose for the fate of him who had treated him as
a bosom friend,--not one regret, not so much as one sensation of pity.
True, indeed, he did reflect upon what course to adopt when the tidings
arrived. Long did he vacillate whether Tom Keane should not be arrested
on suspicion. There were difficulties in either course, and, as usual,
he preferred that coming events should suggest their own conduct.

At last he reached the great house, but instead of entering by the
front door, he passed into the courtyard, and gained his own apartment
unobserved. As he entered he locked the door, and placed the key