im--though his host
kindly assured him that it had no curtains, and that there was not a
shutter to the house--upon the plea of starting the next morning at
daybreak, and his consequent unwillingness to disturb the regular
establishment of the invalid: and Courtland, who was still an excellent,
hospitable, friendly man, suffered his friend's nephew to depart with
regret. He supplied him, however, by a reference to an old note-book,
with the date of the year, and even month, in which he had been favoured
by a visit from Mr. Clarke, who, it seemed, had also changed his
Christian name from Geoffrey, to one beginning with D--; but whether
it was David or Daniel the host remembered not. In parting with Walter,
Courtland shook his head, and observed:--"Entre nous, Sir, I fear this
may be a wildgoose chase. Your father was too facetious to confine
himself to fact--excuse me, Sir--and perhaps the Colonel and the legacy
were merely inventions--pour passer le temps--there was only one reason
indeed, that made me fully believe the story."

"What was that, Sir?" asked Walter, blushing deeply, at the universality
of that estimation his father had obtained.

"Excuse me, my young friend."

"Nay, Sir, let me press you."

"Why, then, Mr. Geoffrey Lester did not ask me to lend him any money."

The next morning, instead of repairing to the gaieties of the
metropolis, Walter had, upon this slight and dubious clue, altered
his journey northward, and with an unquiet yet sanguine spirit,
the adventurous son commenced his search after the fate of a father
evidently so unworthy of the anxiety he had excited.

CHAPTER VIII.

WALTER'S MEDITATIONS.--THE CORPORAL'S GRIEF AND ANGER.--THE
CORPORAL PERSONALLY DESCRIBED.--AN EXPLANATION WITH HIS
MASTER.--THE CORPORAL OPENS HIMSELF TO THE YOUNG TRAVELLER.--
HIS OPINIONS ON LOVE;--ON THE WORLD;--ON THE PLEASURE AND
RESPECTABILITY OF CHEATING;--ON LADIES--AND A PARTICULAR CLASS
OF LADIES;--ON AUTHORS;--ON THE VALUE OF WORDS;--ON FIGHTING;
--WITH SUNDRY OTHER MATTERS OF EQUAL DELECTATION AND
IMPROVEMENT.--AN UNEXPECTED EVENT.

Quale per incertam Lunam sub luce maligna
Est iter.
--Virgil.

[Even as a journey by the upropitious light
of the uncertain moon.]

The road prescribed to our travellers by the change in their destination
led them back over a considerable portion of the ground they had already
t