cautiously by his side, partly covering it with his coat-tail, he broke out in tones as yet untouched by time, with that very feeling and exciting melody, almost a national one, "The Death of Tom Moody," and never was it heard to more advantage, or given with better taste and spirit.

This concluded, to the great enjoyment of the Baron, silence once more reigned, when the Chairman immediately called upon a rather military-looking man, of about five-and-forty, tall and thin, with fair hair and reddish moustache, to explain the meaning of an expression, uttered before our entrance, of" My d--d old Governor," also to whom it had reference, as swearing was not allowed, unless reasonable and necessary. "Oh, certainly," he replied and thus began:

CAPTAIN FRED HARDUN'S STORY.

Sir, most probably you and many other members of this society remember my very excentric father, at least by sight, for he was so well known in certain neighbourhoods through which he daily passed for years that the street boys would often take liberties with him, and insult him by throwing something at him, or shouting, "There goes old Nosey! Halloa! Old Joe, what a yer got in your pockets? Go it, Joe!" and other gamin-like chaff. He undoubtedly was most peculiar looking, and a fair subject for juvenile ridicule. For the benefit, however, of those who never knew or saw him, and as some justification for what I have stated, allow me, before I proceed, to describe him. He stood about six feet high, but, stooping in his walk, he did not appear so tall. He had a very low forehead, with straight stubborn black hair hanging over his eyes and ears, and altogether was what is termed a "harsh featured" man; having also a quick penetrating eye, a remarkably long olfactory organ, and large slobbering mouth, which was under-hung, terminating in a broad square protruding chin. He wore no whiskers, and having an abundance of high and heavily-folded white cravat, you would have taken him for a strong-minded merciless Methodist preacher. He was, as you are aware, a money-lender. What added perhaps more than anything to his grotesque air was the cut of his coat, which was singularly original and unique in style. Its collar was gigantic, and so unyielding that it was impossible for the wearer to bend his head backwards; however, this was an action the Governor never indulged in. The skirt fell considerably below the knees, the effect of which was overwhelming; but besides this peculiarity, it contained divers unheard-of pockets, each of which he made the depository of its own special purposes. For instance, there were two outside and two inside breast-pockets, the outside ones being for sundries, common-place memoranda, and so forth, whilst the inside were for letters, a huge highly-prized pocket-book, bank-notes, bills, and bits of business. There were also two capacious external ones, with flaps, below the waist, from which were generally seen peeping law papers, briefs, draught deeds, leases, &c. Each tail of this magic garment also contained a pocket behind, the left-hand-side one being dedicated to the reception of a prodigious snuff-box, its opposite neighbour acting as a wardrobe for three or four soiled silk hankerchiefs. By way of finish, his trousers were exceedingly loose, and his boots excessively large. How on earth my mother, who was very beautiful, gentle, affectionate, and feminine, came to marry this moneyed monster, I could

never understand. The idea of love was out of the question, and his cold iron nerve I should have warranted free from any sensitiveness; passion he had none, and his profession was a heartless one, to which he had become wedded.

I unfortunately happened to be an only son. I had one sister, but she belonged to the upstairs division, and was not considered of any great consequence. I seldom or ever saw my precious father: he lived chiefly at his chambers near Chancery-lane. My mother, however, made up for that neglect, as she was dotingly fond of me, and indulged me in every way she could, unknown to him. After a thorough good preparatory education from private tutors at home, I was sent to Eton. Great things were expected of me; but having no taste for learning, on obtaining my liberty I devoted my body and mind to athletics, rowing, cricket, and sports of every manly and exciting description, my mother supplying me with funds to carry out my tastes.

Old Joe Hardun's reputation for great wealth soon gained him admittance, in spite of his eccentricities, into the best London society. He was made a magistrate for the county of Middlesex, and the pecuniary obligations under which some of the Upper Ten were bound to him brought promises for my promotion in life; so that my prospects were decidedly first rate.

I had been at Eton close upon two years, and although not in the least fired with classic ambition, I was by no means a dunce, nor looked upon as one, and the monthly report of my studies and conduct was always satisfactory. Latterly I had been very unlucky in my speculations and nocturnal gamblings, consequently my applications for money from home had been more frequent and pressing than usual. This sort of correspondence I carried on unknown in its tactics to my father and mother, by writing to the one at his office and to the other at home by the same post. It was fated, however, that this nice little arrangement, by which I sometimes managed to draw from both together, should be upset, and become the cause of my downfall. By some unaccountable mistake, I enclosed my mother's letter in the envelope directed to my father, and vice versa. In the former I alluded to his want of interest in me and inattention to my letters, and, worse than all, called him stingy and mean. In the one to my father, received by my mother, I said in plain terms it was useless to ask her for assistance, as she had firmly refused me; neither could she be supposed to understand the wants of a schoolboy, which would probably alarm her, and therefore I would on no account disturb her. Imagine their consternation at this horrible deceit. I received no reply, not a word from either, and remained in the dark as to the miscarriage until revealed accidentally by

a worse one.

It was the Ascot Summer Meeting; the Emperor's Vase was then the chief trophy of the grand day, and a few of us determined at all hazards to see the fun. Of course we also meant to sport our trifle on the event; so I borrowed £5 of an accommodating friend, at crushing interest; and thus primed, at the first opportunity we all started for the glorious Heath. Now it must have occurred to the Governor in town that something of the sort was likely to take place, for he also in the afternoon took the train and ran down to Slough, on the chance of bowling me out. After walking leisurely to Eton, he inquired for me,

and, explaining who he was, was soon shown into my room. With the utmost coolness, he set about his delicate investigation, and behold the inventory of his discoveries: Two small portable pocket roulette-tables, with peas complete; several sets of thimbles, for the well-known one, two, three diversion; dice-boxes and dice, stamped, all true; various packs of cards, from Hunt's best down to French ecarté, and even naughty transparent ones; curious conjuring toys; amatory books and prints of Continental fame; also cribbage-boards and pegs. The whole of these he thrust pell mell into the jaws of his tremendous pockets, besides a small collection of well-coloured pipes, once my pride and my consolation. What cigars there were, he deliberately broke into halves, finishing his raid by smashing the glass of my framed pictures, and knocking off the heads of my beloved plaster Venuses, adorning the scene of destruction by fixing his card on some of the most valued objects. Thus loaded with the spoils of my youthful indiscretion, and boiling with the fever of parental ire, he returned to Slough, where, being delayed, he strolled into the stable-yard of what was then Detasio's Hotel, from thence into a stall, and there took place the dénouement of my story, which sealed the fate of my life. My indignant parent having probably worked himself up to the utmost pitch of human effervescence, unused also to violent mental and muscular excitement, greatly increased by the heat of the day, was suddenly seized with epilepsy, and fell, fortunately on the loose straw in the stall, which happily was empty. In this pitiable predicament he was discovered by a helper, who, calling for the ostler, they immediately commenced operations for his recovery. The cold-water cure was the first experiment by which my respected was nearly half-drowned, and with no good effect. Salt and vinegar were next essayed, by which he was nearly half chocked, and with a like result. In the mean while, a crowd of grooms and others collecting around, a policeman was advisedly sent for, and a kind of preliminary inquest held, the boots being sent for a doctor. Opinions differed as to the termination of the attack, but the majority voted him "a corpse," "a stiff 'un," and "a croaker."

On the question being put by the doctor, who had arrived, and the intelligent authority who had charge, "Did any know him?" a wide-awake looking blade, with his hat on one side and a short pipe in his mouth, said, "I been a thinking it be Old Bill Salmon, as used formerly to come down into these parts during race time, and do a bit with the thimbles and cards."

"Well, so do I, George," chimed in a half-bred sort of post-boy; "I fancy somehow it be he."

"Just see what he has about him," replied the doctor, addressing the policeman.

Plunging his brawny fist into the well-like pocket nearest to him, he drew forth a dicebox and several cards, to the great glee of the bystanders. Again he dived, and held up the damning proof of a roulette table. There was no occasion for further search in public.

"Take him to the station," said the sapient doctor; "and I'll see to him by-and-bye."

Upon which an impromptu stretcher was constructed, and my suffering parent was borne away in triumph, viewed in the light of a rare

catch.

On his recovery from the fit, he fill in a sute of extreme prostration and weakness, which saved in de bigy of a cell. His fires efort was to try and impress on the asper or is true position as a magistrate and man of formine; the only reply to which was, “That'll do, that do: set up, cid and wash At length, after considerable persuasion, it was agreed that I should be sent for; and on my return from the beah I found two policemen patiently awaiting Ie. I enz'd not believe them. My father in the lock-up! Impos sible! What cold it mean? No. 42 and 17 knew nothing, and kept a mysterious silence. A great pa and conflant, Jack Greville, happening to be with me, it was decided we should go together, and at OLCR We could scarcely help laughing. We were not in the humour to believe it, and, walking down, we treated the matter as a joke, The idea of a jugged "parient" we roared. We were jovially fresh and excited.

66

"Now," said Jack, who was a thorough wag, "if it should turn out to be 'pater noster,' don't own him. Read the old gentleman a lecture on the impropriety of drinking, because of course he's drunk; and, above all things, make a draw, Fred-make a draw-before you release him."

We had both been "broke" over the Vase, and were what is sportingly termed "skinners." On arriving at the station, the first thing that attracted my attention was the row of gambling implements set out in order in the inspector's office. I fancied I recognised them, said nothing. We were then shown into a small room on the righthand side, where sat a dark, downcast object. I saw in an instant it was my father; but, alas! how changed!-he looked terribly shaken. I knew nothing of the particulars of his sufferings.

"Fred," he said, in a low, faint voice, "I have sent for you to identify me."

He had locked up, before starting, all letters, his pocket-book, and valuables, for fear of accidents. His cards he had disposed of on the ruins of my household gods.

"Yes, you must identify your father."

Upon this, Jack, who stood in my rear, pulled away lustily at my coat, and nudged me violently in the back, whispering, "Go it, Fred." Approaching close to the old man, I said, in a low voice, "What will you stand for it, governor ?" I shall never forget his piercing look and frown. It was a home-thrust in his own line: there was business in it, which he had always tried to impress on me was the only road to wealth and happiness; and it touched him to the quick, for it was his own sort of heartless extortion. However, I was sorry I had said it, and immediately turning to the inspector, said, "For God's sake, tell me, how comes this? My father here!"

At the same moment, the doctor entered the room, and, knowing him, I entreated him to set it right. He went up to his patient, and after a few words, during which I distinctly heard, "Send the boys away," we were requested to retire, which we did, having, as Jack said, "made rather a mess of it, and singing small."

An explanation of affairs, no doubt, soon took place; and that night the doctor, first of all telling me that my father was too ill to see me, accompanied him to London. I never saw him again.

In about a month afterwards, I received orders to proceed to Gravesend where the ship "Destiny" was waiting for passengers. My commission for the Indian army would be handed to me when on board. Everything was prepared for my voyage; also a sum of money, and two hundred a-year guaranteed on my arrival at Calcutta. I fled at once to my mother, threw myself at her feet, obtained her pardon and blessing, and left England with less regrets than I had anticipated. On my father's death, I returned to live with her. He had forgotten me in his will; but my mother made me ample amends, and we were perfectly happy together for many years.

It was in allusion to the cause of my long sojourn in India that I hastily exclaimed, "It was owing to a whim of 'my d-d old governor's.""

"Your explanation is both amusing and satisfactory," replied the gallant chairman, "and we willingly admit the excuse, and thank you for the story. And now, gentlemen and brother Rumpumpas, it being past twelve o'clock, we must postpone Black Bill's last drive' until Friday next, when we all hope that our new member, the Baron de Bonchose, will also oblige us with some interesting adventure or anecdote."

"Monsieur le President and Messieurs, I vill try to remembare ze best dat I can, for I am delight vit ze club, and grateful for ze introduction."

It being the very "witching time of night," and the dissolution proclaimed, the old rule of "No one admitted drunk, and no one allowed to go home sober," soon began to show its effects.

"The very thing! the very thing, at last!" I exclaimed one morning as my eye lingered on an advertisement in the horse column of the Times.

"What is it that pleases you so much? I think you are unpardonably selfish not to let me share your enjoyment," asked a half-reproachful pair of bright eyes and smiling lips, glancing over a tea-pot which my sudden exclamation had arrested in the very act of pouring out. "Why, this !" I rejoined, bending down the rustling page and reading aloud,

TO BE SOLD a bargain, a beautiful GREY HORSE six years old; price not so

a a master, being the property of a clergyman's widow

who is about to go abroad. Quiet to ride and drive, and well suited for a lady who wishes a handsome animal, warranted sound, perfectly steady, and free from vice. A week's trial allowed. Inquire of John, the owner's groom, Hookemsnivey's Stables, Any-street, Marylebone,