On the latter, reclined at full length, a young man, of rather effeminate appearance, and clad, notwithstanding the hour, in a sort of fashionable undress, and solacing himself with a hookah. Unfolding his elegant shawl-patterned gown with much deliberation, he half rose as Sherborne entered.

"George," said the latter, advancing towards him, "I have need of your instant advice and assistance."

"Affair of honour?" said the young gentleman, with something like vivacity.

"No, no," replied Sherborne, "nothing of that kind."

“Lady—eh ?” inquired Mr. Hazeldine, dropping an eye-glass, which he had raised and fixed to one of his eyes by a forcible contraction of the brow above, for the purpose of ascertaining that it really was Mr. Sherborne, and no one else, who had penetrated into his Sanctum under false pretences.

"No, nor a lady," returned Frank.

"Well, then, what the devil can it be ?" pursued his friend, sinking back with an air of

languid disappointment. "Explain as soon as you can without personal inconvenience."

Thus saying he raised his feet again to the sofa, adjusted the cushion which supported his head with an air strongly deprecatory of the exertion, and reclosed his eyes as in helpless resignation.

"To be brief, then," returned Sherborne, "I am in search of a certain Captain Montague, who I understand is to be met with to-night in some place called The Nick.' Are you acquainted either with this person or his retreat?" "Extraordinary!" responded Mr. George

Hazeldine.

As for Captain Montague, you see, my dear fellow, there are so many of them.— All unattached captains,-I say nothing of Christinos and Columbians, are Montagues,

or

Percies, or Beauforts, and all that sort of

6

thing. But as for The Nick,' you can't mean seriously to assert that you don't know where

The Nick' is to be found ? ” And Mr. Hazeldine turning himself half round, refitted the glass to his eye for the purpose of examining such a fine specimen of barbaric ignorance.

Frank, nevertheless, met his glance unshrinking, and fairly confessed that he knew nothing of the place in question.

"Monstrous!" ejaculated his friend, sinking back into his former position.

"Well-take pity on my want of knowledge, and enlighten me," said Frank.

"Buy a great square book," replied Mr. Hazeldine," and study geography,—and the use of the globes."

"Come, come," said Frank, growing impatient, "I have no time for this nonsense; I must find this person, and that without delay. not aid me in the search ?”

Will

66

you, or will

you

Why you see,

my dear Frank,—as you

make a point of it-ch!-but it's d-d annoying though," lisped the gentleman, who would not have hesitated to subscribe himself his "most particular friend."

Here

After a little more dallying, Mr. Hazeldine was at length prevailed upon to dress. was another trial for poor Sherborne's endurance. He bore it, however, like a martyr ; and his friend at length declared himself to be ready.

They had passed into the drawing-room, when Mr. Hazeldine's glance happened to light upon Frank's habiliments. He paused, quietly reseated himself, and having recourse once more to his glass, ran his eye leisurely over that gentleman's whole person.

"Come," cried the latter, his hand upon the door, "time presses.-What is the matter now? - What are you staring at?

Anything the

"Coat!

"Coat!" repeated Mr. Hazeldine.

Merciful Providence! do you call that a coat?

-it is a Coffin ? "

"Folly!" said Frank, half inclined to be angry; but reflecting that such a course was by no means calculated to aid his purpose or to render his society more agreeable to his friend, he checked himself. "Coat or no coat," he continued, with an attempt at pleasantry which every muscle in his countenance belied, "it shall do you no discredit.

Lo! I have a cloak

A better never did itself sustain

Upon a soldier's back.""

"Yes-that's playful-very," persisted the immoveable Hazeldine; "but I really cannot lend myself to such a cloak as that; it would be a social suicide. And boots too!-extraordinary! Pray, where on earth are such boots to be procured?—I suppose you do call them boots ?"

Frank was beginning to lose his temper in earnest, but after some little more diplomacy, the business was at length compromised; Frank covenanting on the one side to screw himself into a fashionable surtout, the property of his host, -the latter, on the other hand, submitting to put the boots, or rather his objections to them, -into his pocket.

A short walk brought the friends to the house in question. It appeared to be a common gambling-house, and one of no very lofty description, or what is technically termed a "Silver Hell."

On the delivery of some mysterious watchword given by Hazeldine they were admitted instantly by the obsequious porter, and, ascending a narrow staircase, defended at the top by