Frank Fairlegh

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mediately afterwards Dr. Mildman's face, wearing an expression of the most thorough perplexity and bewilderment, appeared cautiously peeping from behind the Macintosh. Having apparently satisfied himself that no enemy was concealed there, and he had nothing further to fear, but that the whole plot was centred as it were in the mysterious garment before him, he set himself seriously to work to examine it. First he pulled out his eye-glass and, stepping back a pace or two, took a general survey of the whole; he then approached it again, and taking hold of it in different places with his hand, examined it in detail so closely that it seemed as if he were trying to count the number of threads. Being apparently unwilling in so difficult an investigation to trust to the evidence of any one sense, he replaced his eye-glass in his waistcoat pocket, and began rubbing a portion of the skirt between his hands; the sense of touch failing, however, to throw any new light upon the subject, as a sort of forlorn hop

s desk studying Herodotus, while Coleman and I

red remarks to each of us in turn, he went up to Lawless, and, l

about that strange garment of yours, Lawless; I su

of waterproof cloth, m

ght it was a smock-frock, though, when I saw you go out in it. Is not it rather awkward to walk in? I

utton in front; perhaps you pu

ticle of dress altogether, but I am glad it was not a smock-frock you went out in. I hope," continued he, turning to Oa

a vengeance! Lawless became sud

t upset by it. I was not quite overcome, though," he continued, with a sly glance to

ng them," observed Dr. Mildman, turning over his papers

pects the sofa will be down?" suggest

laugh when that old gentleman is in the room, for there's

red from the effects of his exertions, when he was summoned to the Doctor's table to undergo an examination similar to that which had appeared so formidable to me a few days before; and thus terminated the notable adventure of the carter's

I was walking with Colem

s the queerest; he looks like a fossil edition of Methuselah, dug up and modernised some hun

and a black cloth spencer (an article much like a boy's jacket exaggerated), from beneath which protruded the very broad tails of a b

nion to London. The recognition seemed mutual, for no sooner did he perceive me than he stopped short, and pointed straight at me with a stout silver-mounted bamboo

at Helmstone, I should like to know?"

, sir," replied I; "I came down here the

oing now you are here? Schoolmaster lives here,

utor's name and reside

set of tiresome boys-men, though, you call yourselves, don't

se seventeen years,

o! a baby, more likely: what do

bly intended a pun upon h

e one myself then, though-just like me. Well, give the Doctor my compliments-Mr. Frampton's-I live at No. 10 Castle Street,-he knows me, and ask him to let you come and dine

ly respected, in spite of his eccentricities, and was reported to have spent great part of his life abroad. The next time I met my new friend he repeated his invitation to Coleman and myself, and, on the day appointed, gave us an excellent dinner, with quite as much wine as

e veil of indolence which, till one knew him well, effectually concealed them. Coleman, though too volatile to make a real friend of, was a very agreeable companion, and, if it were ever possible to get him to be serious for a minute, showed that beneath the frivolity of his manner lay a basis of clear good sense and right feeling, which only required calling forth to render him a much

of his being a most unmitigated, and not over-amiable, fool. The word is a strong one

is religion, carried, as it was, into all the minor details of everyday life, imparted a gentleness and benignity to his manner which seemed to elevate him above the level of ordinary mortals. If he had a fault (I suppose, merely for the sake of proving him human, I must allow him one), it was a want of moral

s indolence and dislike of trouble, had, at length, succeeded in making Oaklands believe him essential to his comfort. Thus, though there was not the smallest sympathy between them, a sort of alliance was established, which gav

appeared determined, after the fashion of Bottom the weaver, "to roar that it would do any man's heart good to hear him," and to kick up a thorough dust ere he wou

he cloud of dust which a strong east wind was driving directly in our faces; "there is nothing in the world tires one like walking against a hig

here the houses, in a great measure, protected us from the wind. Afte

ou ever play

d in the

e day he did not half like it, so then I was obliged to make shocking mistakes, every now and then, to give him a chance of winning; anybody else would have found me out in a minute, for I am the worst hand in the world at playing the

I, "if I can get leave from head-quarters; but wh

nd of the game, and I'm going to meet him at the rooms in F--Street to-day; so

irst-rate player,

should say; but we are to have a regular matc

play for

game, nothing more," replied Oaklands; "

ugh I could not play myself, it would be an amusement to me to watch them, and that, if he had no objection, I would go with him, to which proposition he willingly agreed. As we turned into F--Street we were joined by Cumberland, who, as I fancied, did not seem best pleased at seeing me, nor did the scowl which passed across his brow, on hearing I was to accompany them, tend to lessen this impression. He did not, however, attempt to make any opposition to the plan, merely remarking that, as I did not play myself, he thought I should find it rather dull. After proceeding about half way down the street Cumberland stopped in front of a small cigar-shop, and, turning towards a private door, on which was a brass plate with the word "Billiards" engraved on it, knocked, and was admitted. Leading the way up a dark, narrow staircase, he opened a green baize door at the top, and ushered us into a tolerably large room, lighted by a sky-light, immediately under which stood the billiard-table. On one side was placed a rack, containing a formidable arrangement of cues, maces, etc., while at the farther end two small dials, with

entlemen, don't you think? dusty enough to pepper the devil, as we used to

who, I thought, had tact enough to perceive that his friend's

ned to be going by, I thought I'd look in to see if there was anything up; and as the table was lying

at once," said Cumberland, to whi

long, I shall never be able to stand it: his familiarity is unbearable; there

"whoever wins four games out of seve

ve so," was O

n my life," observed the Ca

ve, or ten pounds, did we

e," replied Oakl

e pounds is so shocking small, don't you thi

mberland; and after a few pre

, who was evidently deeply interested, use his utmost skill, and his play, which certainly was very good, called forth frequent eulogiums from the Captain, who offered to bet unheard-of sums on the certainty of his winning (which, as there was no one in the room at all likely to accept his offer, was a very safe and innocent amusement), and again, pari passu, did Cumberland's skill keep pace with his. After playing neck and neck, till nearly the end of the game, Cumberland gained a slight advantage, which produced the following state of affairs:-It was Oaklands' turn to play, and the balls were placed in such a position, that by a brilliant stroke he might win the game, but it required great skill to do so. If he failed, the chances were so much in Cumberland's favour as to render his success almost a certainty. It was an anxious moment: for my own part, I felt as if I scarcely dared breathe, and could distinctly hear the throbbing of my own heart, while the Captain, after having most liberally offered to bet five hundred pounds to five pence that he did it, remained silent and motionless as a statue, watching the proceedings, with his eye-glass screwed after some mysterious fashion into the corner of his eye. And now, carefully and deliberately, Oaklands pointed his cue-his elbow was drawn back for the stroke-for the last time his eye appeared to measure and calculate the precise spot he must strike to produce the desired effect-when suddenly, and at the exact moment in which the cue struck

that if you had not been flurried, Mr. Oaklands, sir, you could have done the trick as clean as a whistle. Allow me to place the balls as they were then

deliberation, struck the ball, and succeeded in doing with perfect ea

ortion there hadn't made that disgusting noise. Play him again, sir; play him again: Mr. Cumberland's a pretty player,

ing me my revenge, Cumb

and for what appeared to me very high stakes. I calculated that, by the time they left off, Oaklands must have lost more than thirty pounds; and yet, in spite of this, to a superficial observer he appeared to be the better player of the two: he certainly made the most brilliant strokes, but he also made blunders, and fa

as much as he could of Oaklands' money. The marker's sneeze too, occurring so very opportunely for Cumberland's interest; and the presence of the Captain, who, by his eulogiums on Oaklands' skill, had excited him to continue playing, while, by his observations and advice, he had endeavoured (whenever it was possible) to raise the amount of the stakes; all this favoured my vie

to have cheated some young man before; and that, moreover, my very unworldliness and ignorance increased my suspicions, inasmuch as it seemed to me that playing billiards, at a public table, for what I considered large sums of money, was neither more nor less than gambling; and gambling I viewed in the light of a patent t