owards the grounds, caught
sight of him, and went with much curiosity to inquire the object of his
errand.

"Home not in the senate-house," said Lillyston, on hearing the marshal's
answer. "Good heavens, what can be the matter?" and without waiting to
hear more, he darted to Julian's door, and called his name.

"What do you want?" said Julian in a fretful and angry voice.

"Why are you sported? And why aren't you in for the Clerkland?"

"Can't you see, then?"

"What! So you are screwed in," said Lillyston in deep surprise; "wait
three minutes, Julian, three minutes, and I will let you out."

He sprang down-stairs, four steps at a time, borrowed a screwdriver at
the porter's lodge, was back in a moment, and then with quick and
skilful hand he drew out, one after another, the screws which had been
driven deep into the door.

Julian lifted the latch inside, and Lillyston saw with surprise and pain
his scared and wild glance. Julian said not a word, but rushed past his
friend, and burst furiously into Brogten's room. Fortunately Brogten
was not in, for the moment he heard steps approaching, he had purposely
gone out; but Lillyston followed Julian, and said--

"Come, this is folly, Julian; you have not a moment to lose. You will
be already nearly an hour late, and remember that the Clerkland may
depend upon it."

He suffered himself to be led, but as he walked he was still silent, and
seemed as though he were trying to gulp down some hard knot that rose in
his throat. His expression was something totally different from
anything that Lillyston had ever observed in him, even from a boy, and
his feet seemed to waver under him as he walked.

De Vayne joined them in the court, and was quite startled to see Julian
looking so ill. He saw that it was no time to trouble him with idle
inquiries, and merely pressed him to come into his rooms and take some
wine before going to do the paper. Julian silently complied. The
kind-hearted young viscount took out a bottle of wine, of which Julian
swallowed off a tumblerful, and then, without speaking a word, strode
off to the senate-house, which he reached pale and agitated, attracting,
as he entered, the notice and commiseration of all present.

The examiner, with a kind word of encouragement, and an inquiry as to
the cause of his delay, which Julian left unanswered, promised to allow
him in the evening as much additional time for doing the paper as he had
already lost.