he solemn silence of
the house. A nimble-handed mugger or tramp might have carried off whatever
he liked.

Passing onward, Mr. Sponge came to a red-baized, brass-nailed door, which,
opening freely on a patent spring, revealed the fine proportions of a light
picture-gallery with which the bright mahogany doors of the entertaining
rooms communicated. Opening the first door he came to, our friend found
himself in the elegant drawing-room, on whose round bird's-eye-maple table,
in the centre, were huddled all the unequal-lengthed candles of the
previous night's illumination. It was a handsome apartment, fitted up in
the most costly style; with rose-colour brocaded satin damask, the curtains
trimmed with silk tassel fringe, and ornamented with massive bullion
tassels on cornices, Cupids supporting wreaths under an arch, with open
carved-work and enrichments in burnished gold. The room, save the muster of
the candles, was just as it had been left; and the richly gilt sofa still
retained the indentations of the sitters, with the luxurious down pillows,
left as they had been supporting their backs.

The room reeked of tobacco, and the ends and ashes of cigars dotted the
tables and white marble chimney-piece, and the gilt slabs and the finely
flowered Tournay carpet, just as the fires of gipsies dot and disfigure the
fair face of a country. Costly china and nick-nacks of all sorts were
scattered about in profusion. Altogether, it was a beautiful room.

'No want of money here,' said Mr. Sponge to himself, as he eyed it, and
thought what havoc Gustavus James would make among the ornaments if he had
a chance.

He then looked about for pen, ink, and paper. These were distributed so
wide apart as to show the little request they were in. Having at length
succeeded in getting what he wanted gathered together, Mr. Sponge sat down
on the luxurious sofa, considering how he should address his host, as he
hoped. Mr. Sponge was not a shy man, but, considering the circumstances
under which he made Sir Harry Scattercash's acquaintance, together with his
design upon his hospitality--above all, considering the crew by whom Sir
Harry was surrounded--it required some little tact to pave the way without
raising the present inmates of the house against him. There are no people
so anxious to protect others from robbery as those who are robbing them
themselves. Mr. Sponge thought, and thought, and thought. At last he
resolved to write on the subjec