d turned my steps in this direction.

"'What if I said I don't believe you, Paul Hunt?' retorted he, savagely.
'What if I said that I see your whole game in this business, and know
every turn and every trick you mean to play us?'

"If you had not drunk so much of Godfrey's Burgundy,' said I, 'you 'd
never have spoken this way to an old friend.'

"'Friend be------!' cried he, savagely. 'I know no friends but the men
who will share danger with you as well as drink out of the same bottle.
Why did you leave us this evening?'

"'I'll be frank with you, Tom,' said I. 'I had made a rendezvous with
Louisa; but she never came.'

"'Why should she?' muttered he, angrily. 'Why should she trust the man
who is false to his pals?'

"'That I have never been,' broke I in. 'Ask Hawke himself. Ask Godfrey,
and he'll tell you whether I have ever dropped a word against you.'

"'No, he would n't,' said he, doggedly.

"'I tell you he would,' cried I. 'Let us go to him this minute.'

"'I 'd rather not, if the choice were given me,' said he, with a horrid
laugh.

"'Do you mean,' cried I, in terror,--'do you mean that it is all over?'

"'All over!' said he, gravely, and as though his clouded faculties were
suddenly cleared. 'Godfrey knows all about it by this time,' muttered
he, half to himself.

"'Would to Heaven we had never come here!' burst I in, for my heart was
breaking with anguish and remorse. 'How did it happen, and where?'

"'In the chair where you last saw him. We thought he had fallen asleep,
and were for having him carried up to bed, when he gave a slight shudder
and woke up again.

"Where's Loo?" cried he, in a weak voice; and then, before we could
answer, he added, "Where 's Hunt?"

"'"Paul was here a moment ago; he 'll be back immediately."

"'He gave a laugh,--such a laugh I hope never to hear again. Cold as he
lies there now, that terrible grin is on his face yet. You 've done it
this time, Tom," said he to me, in a whisper. "What do you mean?" said
I. "Death!" said he; "it's all up with _me,--your_ time is coming."
And he gave a ghastly grin, sighed, and it was over.'

"We both sat down on the damp ground, and never spoke for nigh an hour.
At last Tom said, 'We ought to be back in the house, and trying to make
ourselves useful, Paul.'

"I arose, and walked after him, not knowing well whither I was going.
When we reached the little flower-garden, we could see into the
dining-room. The branch of wax-candles