the man who had so handily fleeced me. wish I had killed you." "I "To be sure you do," said he, jauntily, "but before you effect that interesting event you will need to learn to fence. You had me off guard, yet you could do no better than scratch my shoulder." It was true I had shown a lamentable want of skill, but it wounded my vanity to discuss the matter, so I spoke of something else. "Why did you come here?" I asked, at a venture. "Presumably for the same reason that you did," he answered. "I was on my way home. But the walk is long, and I am bleeding." He spoke the truth, for the blood was trickling from his arm. "Do you mean to leave me thus in the rain?" "I am sorely tempted to do so," I answered. "A most charitable heart!" he cried. "But, come, enough of this foolery! Do you live hereabouts?" "Above," I answered. "Good!" said he. "I will go up with you and you may dress my wound." Such brazen effrontery was a revelation to me, but I determined not to be behind him in ease of manner, so I bowed low in acquiescence. I had very nearly played the baby in his presence at the gaming table after he had won my money, so I determined to show him now that I could take my ill fortune with as much nonchalance as any ruffler of them all. We mounted to the mean little garret which served me for a lodging, and I set about dressing his wound, which proved to be an insignificant scratch. When I had finished binding the wound I brought out two bottles of wine, the last I had in the world-and vile wine it wasand we drank together like the best of boon companions. Seeing us thus no one would have imagined that but an hour before I had thirsted for the blood of this man and had cursed him to the end of my vocabulary. Almost without intermission the wine gurgled down our throats. Between the draughts we kept up a desultory conversation, and very desultory it was, for my companion was a man after my own heart, who -to judge from his conduct-held with me that time spent in talking is wasted when there is wine to drink. When we had almost reached the bottom of the second bottle I began to realize once more my penniless condition, and grew sad. Holding the wine up to the light, the better to test its clearness, I said in a mournful tone, "Alas! where will the next bottle come from?" "Of this?" said he lightly, tapping the bottle. "If no more such stuff could be found it would be no great harm." A very ungracious remark, I thought, for he had done more than his share in the drinking of it. "But, believe me, I pity you most sincerely. A man might go without food or clothes, but sad, indeed, is his lot who is forced to go without wine." "Yes, I have fared ill, indeed," I said, “and it is you I must thank for it. The last sou I had in the world has found its way into your purse." "And found its way out again," he exclaimed, with a light laugh. "I played my last desperate game to-night, and as luck would have it I won. But I owed that money to the last piece, and now I am in search of more." "My own case, exactly," I muttered. "Would that the search were rewarded!" At these words he lost instantly his easy manner and leaning over the table looked me intently in the eye, his face disfigured by an ugly frown. man was transformed. The "Ah! but it can be, easily," he said, so earnestly that I was startled. "We are penniless and we must have money. No risk should appall two desperate men. If you choose, at this time to-morrow night we will have money, money, money!!" His manner frightened me, he was so terribly in earnest. I looked at him, with open mouth, too bewildered to say a word. "Well ?" I finally ventured, yet dreading what was to come. "We will turn thief; do you hear, thief," he said, with almost a growl. "But what of that? The world is against us, why should not we be against the world? In the house of a certain nobleman, a man I have reason to hate, is a treasure of immense value. I know well where it is. A little risk, a little daring, and that treasure is ours." His impetuosity took me off my feet. Yet in a shame-faced sort of way I muttered something about my honor. "Honor!" he cried, scornfully. "Bah!" "Bah!" Did you think of honor when you gave me that thrust below? What is honor to you! Honor is for those who have the money to pay for such a luxury. But the world is treading on you, and will do so as long as you submit. One grand coup and you may hold your head up with the best!" His earnestness did its work. I threw any scruples I may have had to the winds. It was the world or myself, and let the best man win. I struck my hand in his and sealed the bargain, share and share alike. (To be continued.) GREATNESS. This is the greatest age of man; Great art, great methods reign supreme, And poets even toil and dream For something Great-if it will scan. The horseless wagon and the rest We look with pity on the past, And mock at all the past held great; Old views, old ways are out of date; "Time's noblest offspring is the last.” Our minds, our visions all expand; We move beyond the little sphere; "The white man's burden," our career, Expansive, Great, Sublime and Grand! D. |