Fallen Fortunes

turned towards a group of men who were standing round Lord Sandford, making believe to laugh and jest, but show

ll in the eyes. Did the glance of the other quail ever so l

not specify, yet which are well understood by your lordship, have transpired to change the relations betwixt us; and I wish to add that I desire to be beholden to no man. In the rooms allotted to me in your lordship's house there is a quantity of wearing apparel, jewels, trin

ity and grace, Grey made them a gen

a beggarly inn-keeper, that I should sell a guest's belongings to pay my bill? What do you

not, and, truth to tell, he did not care. He just turned his head over hi

, and in any place appointed. For the rest, a man who has sought to compass the death of a comrade by a fou

eturning the many salutes and bright arch glances shot at him from the lane of bystanders through which he needs mus

men were buzzing l

o?" "Is it true that he is ruined?" "He has lost his horse, at least. None will give him a score of guineas for the beast now." "How did it chance?" "Was it a

ike son. It has been coming on for days. I misdoubted me if ever he would ride this race. He came and told me he must reform. That was ever his father's cry, and he would disappear into the country for a while, and reappear again as gay as ever. 'Tis the

im to say no more, but leave matters as they were, flung away from them, and made his way back alone to the inn, from whi

ry folk had gathered with shakings of the head and questionings beneath their breath; and there, plain for all men to see, was the yawning hole

to a knot of eager questioners, no

I've a-looked in many a time, and the hole gets less and less deep. When I saw them setting up the brushwood and things here, I made sure they had covered the trap well. I walked about it, but never saw sign of it. If I'd a thought of danger, I'd ha' t

ew that something strange had passed upon him of late, and that there was some rupture

n of his?" whispered one and anoth

*

somewhere in the region of Drury Lane, and took a seat in a dark corner as near to the stove as he could get, for he looked pinched with cold, and his plain and rather threadbare black suit was pretty

ned by clouds of tobacco smoke which the guests were puffing forth. The smell of coffee mingled with the ranker fumes of t

aid to order food; for his funds were dwindling almost to the vanishing point, and as yet he had found no means of replenishing his exchequer. But he had not been able to resist the temptation to escape from

ken his meals in some of the numerous coffee or chocolate houses, or the taverns which abounded throughout the town. Latterly he had generally bought his food at the cheapest market, and had eaten it in the attic to which he had removed

Rembrandt-like in the effect of the picture upon which Grey's eyes rested. Leaning back dreamily with his head against the wall, he could almost fa

nd the hum of talk went on unceasingly, as one after another took up the word and launched forth h

gathered in this very humble and cheap place of resort, which would not tempt any but those in adverse circumstances. But over and above their poverty, they seemed to be railing at neglect or injustice

im. "Look at the mouthing mountebanks that walk the boards now! They strut like peacocks, they gibber like apes. They have neither voice, nor figure, nor talent, nor grace. But, forsooth, because some fine dame

hame!" cried an

ole houses of beauty and fashion? Have I lost my skill or cunning? Has my voice or has my grace departed from me? Wherefore, then, do I s

ain arose; but out of the

ey were patient with you. Oh yes, they were very patient; for they knew your gifts and recognized them. But you met friendly rebuke or warning with haughtiness and scorn. You would listen to no counsel; you would heed no warnings. The end should have been plain to you from the beginning, an

upon the striking features and iron-gray hair of a very remarkable-looking old man of leonine aspect, whose voice was of that penetrating quality which makes itself heard without being raised; and

next him; and the answer came readily

always called the Old Lion, and methinks the name suits him well. He is a very lion for courage, else would he not dare to rebuke Master

. Some of them stood up and rolled forth bits of Congreve's witty and sparkling dramas, and disputed as to whether the "Old Bachelor" or the "Way of the World" were his happiest effort; whilst some declared that the "Double Dealer" was the best of all. They talked excitedly of the reviva

ield appeared to have any true histrionic gift, and the cause of his downfall was plain to be read after the speech of the "Old Lion." From time to time, as the light flickered upon the striking face in the ingle, Grey caught a fine-lipped smile upon it, and once or twice he thought the old actor's eyes

t least-that the room was empty. What the time was he had no idea; but it must be late, an

a bent figure, dignified even in its infirmity, and the voice wh

ound the house. This gentleman will sup with me ere we go home. Go and serve u

amed in its shaggy gray hair, looked more leonine than ever, the bright eyes shining out of deep caverns from under bushy brows, t

I have marked yours ever since you entered this room. Tell me your name. Tell m

to find my father dead and my home in the hands of a kinsman to whom it was mortgaged by my father. The small fortune I received I squandered foolishly in a few weeks of gay living with young bloods of the town. I wakened from my dream to find myself well-nigh penniless, disgusted alike with myself and those

f paper from your breast as you came in. That action, together with your face, told

ing life, saw the folly and futility thereof, and desired to amend, I did take a quiet lodging high up in a building off Holborn, and there I did set myself to the task, and right happy was I in it. I had a score of gold pieces still left me, and my needs I did think modest; though, looking back, they seem ma

nodded his he

a publisher, young sir. You sho

lightly, and he hesit

nown and recognized by those whom I did know ha my former life. There is scarce an antechamber in those fine houses where patrons dwell where I might not meet the curious and impertinent regard of those who would know me again. That I will not brook." And now Grey's eyes fl

the tapster was entering with the smoking viands, an

the trenchers, you shall come with me to my lodging. I would