In which Richard Savage is made the principal in an unlooked for adventure; and finds certain new and serviceable friends.

MR. LANGLEY came out of Myte's door as I was about to enter it. Upon perceiving me, he hesitated; then removing his hat, and making me a cold and ceremonious bow, he glided past me. I was half tempted to run after him, and inquire the reason of this conduct; but, concluding that whatever the cause might be I should beab le to collect it from his father-in-law, I walked into the office.

Hearing my footstep, Myte, who was seated at his desk, raised his head, and with eyes and the feather end of his pen directed towards me, continued to gaze upon me for some time.

• What Levant wind blew you hither?' he said, at last ; or have you come to ask me to bail you to the sessions? for, I suppose you were either compelled to come, or have a favour to beg.'

Neither,' I replied, smiling, for I supposed him to be in jest. 'Ludlow is now better, and can spare me; and so I have returned.' And so you've returned-ugh!' cried Myte with a sort of grunt; ' have you brought any news with you ?

'None, in particular.'

'Not time yet to fire 'em off?' suggested Myte. got 'em ready more easily.'

'Mendez Pinto

'What do you mean?' said I, in doubt whether I ought to laugh or to take offence.

'Pinto was one of those men that never let down the bucket to help truth out of her well,' answered Myte.

'What of that?' I exclaimed in perplexity.

'Isn't Ludlow a little like Pinto, and are not you his apprentice?' 'Mr. Myte?' I exclaimed, in indignant astonishment, this language

"Has only truth to recommend it,' cried Myte, rising, and therefore will carry little weight with you. Go away, young man,-go away, and let me never see your face again. A fellow of your parts, -Lord bless my soul !-that might tear the bandage from Fortune's eyes, and make her smile at you for doing so,-that might invent a

d

wheel of your own, with cogs in it, to turn hers at pleasure,-cogs ?cogs ?——oh d― it!' (the only oath I ever heard from Myte's lips,) 'I think there has been a great deal too much cogging already between you. Ricardo-Richard Freeman, I blush for you.'

Do you?' I replied. 'I wish I could see your meaning: that and your blushes are alike hidden, at present.'

'None of your jeers,' cried Myte, in a rage, colouring in downright earnest you'll put me in a passion, and I'm-I don't know what when I'm once roused. I can say hard things-but I won't. You want my meaning, do you? Take it, then. Woful-(what the deuce !-Ludlow and you have been concocting a plot—that we have discovered, I always thought it a strange story-to pass yourself off for the son of Semira-Mrs. Brett. I am convinced of it now.'

'Convinced of it!' said I, with an insolent sneer, and now! since when is that now? How much-how much wrought that conviction? Tell me, good Mr Myte, for how much my good mother, Mrs. Brett, bought you? (was there much haggling ?)-purchased you, I say-in a lump, as it were: bluster and remonstrance-virtuous resentment and invisible blushes. I hope the gold, at least, was true.'

'Out-out of my house!' roared Myte, and he sprang nimbly forwards, and I verily thought was going to lay hands upon I sell myself to Mrs. Brett for money! I and my son Langley Oh! go away or I know not what I may

lend ourselves to

do.'

'I care not, for my part,' said I. For what, Mr. Myte, do you take me?'

'An impostor,' he cried decisively.

And what the aim of my imposition?'

The extortion of money,' he said with equal promptness.

Oh! sir,' I rejoined, 'fair play, if you please. If you suspect, why may not I? If money is so potential, perhaps you acknowledge its influence-feel it-fall to it.'

'My character through life,' said he, after a pause, 'sets aside that supposition.'

'Will Ludlow's stand him in any stead?' I asked. Charity, Mr. Myte.'

'Freeman,' he began.

'My name is not Freeman, sir,' said I.

'Never mind that. We would not believe anything against youwe, Langley and I,-upon the mere word of Mrs. Brett. Why, my thoughts were friendly towards you-very friendly.'

'You told me that once before, sir, and still I doubt it. Words are wind, and easily vented.'

"Therefore I forgive what you say,' returned Myte. 'Let me go on. We had a worthier assurance than Mrs. Brett could offer.'

* And whose was that?' I inquired.

'An honourable lady-Lady Mason.

She has told us that you

are

'An impostor?'

'That word was your own,' cried Myte,- that you are Ludlow's nephew. She thinks so. At all events, that you are not the son of Mrs. Brett. That child died in its infancy.'

'Gracious God!' I exclaimed, do you mean to say that Lady Mason has disowned me? I'll not believe it. This is another worthy device of my excellent mother. But, why do I talk to you? Does it signify to me a rush what you think of me?'

'Yes,' answered Myte, 'it does. The good opinion of an honest man is worth all the rushes that were ever made into chairs for knaves to sit upon. I tell you, Langley and I waited upon Lady Mason, and had it from her own lips.'

I was confounded, and unable to speak for some time. garded me with an aspect of pity.

Myte re

'My poor Ricardo!' said he, shaking his head. You, also, I fear, have been deceived by that insidious villain, Ludlow. Nay, don't storm, or I shall be certain you are acting in concert.'

'But I will speak, sir.'

'Young man,' said Myte, with more solemnity than I thought he could put on,' when people league together to do base things, they should be very circumspect; but what has Ludlow done? No sooner is he turned out of doors by his mistress, than he recalls-reclaims-faugh! takes to his bosom his wife-as infamous a woman as ever spurned at every suggestion of decency, of virtue, of humanity. You see, we know all. And what have you done? you have positively gone to live with them; you have made yourself one of them,— identified yourself with them. What is the inevitable conclusion?' raising his voice. Why, roguery, roguery, roguery. Oh!' and he shook his head so that his face was scarce distinguishable, no more, no more. If you think you have any claim upon Mrs. Brett, get away from 'em-have nothing to do with 'em. With your hands to your ears, and your feet to the ground, scamper away from 'em.'

This was a home-thrust which I could not parry. And it did look awkward-ugly. It was so excellent a foundation for Mrs. Brett to build upon: I could not but see that. And then-what man out of a thousand,―if, indeed, any man were to be found,-who could understand, much less sympathise, with the feelings that had prompted Ludlow to take back to his forgiveness a penitent sinner-that sinner being his wife. Presently, however, a sense of Myte's injustice towards me -an unprotected, inexperienced youth-returned to me. I was too proud to ask him to put a favourable construction upon my proceedings, to suspend his opinion of me. I turned, therefore, to him, and said,