rom which he got no rents now, and of
which nobody exactly knew the situation. Added to these was Sir Francis
Clavering, Bart., who liked their society, though he did not much add to
its amusements by his convivial powers. But he was made much of by the
company now, on account of his wealth and position in the world. He told
his little story and sang his little song or two with great affability;
and he had had his own history, too, before his accession to good
fortune; and had seen the inside of more prisons than one, and written
his name on many a stamped paper.

When Altamont first returned from Paris, and after he had communicated
with Sir Francis Clavering from the hotel at which he had taken up his
quarters (and which he had reached in a very denuded state, considering
the wealth of diamonds and rubies with which this honest man was
entrusted), Strong was sent to his patron by the Baronet; paid his
little bill at the inn, and invited him to come and sleep for a night
or two at the chambers, where he subsequently took up his residence. To
negotiate with this man was very well, but to have such a person settled
in his rooms, and to be constantly burthened with such society, did not
suit the Chevalier's taste much; and he grumbled not a little to his
principal.

"I wish you would put this bear into somebody else's cage," he said to
Clavering. "The fellow's no gentleman. I don't like walking with him. He
dresses himself like a nigger on a holiday. I took him to the play the
other night; and, by Jove, sir, he abused the actor who was doing the
part of villain in the play, and swore at him so, that the people in the
boxes wanted to turn him out. The after-piece was the 'Brigand,' where
Wallack comes in wounded, you know, and dies. When he died, Altamont
began to cry like a child, and said it was a d----d shame, and cried and
swore so, that there was another row, and everybody laughing. Then I had
to take him away, because he wanted to take his coat off to one fellow
who laughed at him; and bellowed to him to stand up like a man.--Who is
he? Where the deuce does he come from? You had best tell me the
whole story. Frank; you must one day. You and he have robbed a church
together, that's my belief. You had better get it off your mind at once,
Clavering, and tell me what this Altamont is, and what hold he has over
you."

"Hang him! I wish he was dead!" was the Baronet's only reply; and his
countenance became so gloomy, th