For the Term of His Natural Life

r. Mr. John Rex had expensive tastes. He neither shot nor hunted, so he had no capital invested in Scotch moors or Leicestershire hunting-boxes. But his stables were th

ad not dispelled-led him to prefer the privacy of his own house, where he could choose his own society. The house in Clarges Street was decorated in conformity with the tastes of its owner. The pictures were pictures of horses, the

er he had been accustomed, had increased Rex's natural proneness to fat, and instead of being portly he had become gross. His cheeks were inflamed with the frequent application of hot and rebellious liquors to his blood. His hands were swollen, and not so steady as of

course you have. I was up rather late last night. Quite sure you won't have any

me serious talk with you. What do you intend to do with the property? This ind

ly look on his face, "the fact is-and you may as

n horror. "Why, Purkiss said the prop

d betting, and other amusements, concerning which you need no

scheming which led him to affect the "gentleman" having been removed, the natural brutality of his nature showed itself quite freely. Mr. Francis Wade took a p

ely. "My old father got his money by dirtier ways than these in which I spend it. As

ed not revile your father

me, that unhung murderous villain, Maurice Frere, would have come in for it. By t

ment at Sydney, I think." "Is he?" said Mr. Richard, with a shiver. "Hope he'll stop the

g every

I am. The Hampste

bewilderment. "You'd sell it? Why, the carving

ing the bell. "I want cash, and cash I must ha

soon have thought of proposing to sell St. Paul's Cathedral as to sell the casket which held

you are not in e

, ind

who wil

re talking of a suburban line, with a terminus at St. John's Wood, which will

with me! You will never

, what is the good of a man like me pretending to belong to 'an old family', with 'a seat' and all that

o you propos

realize upon the property, and travel," said

t so sudden a determination. The old house-vases-coins-pictures-scattered-I rea

sh by auction, and go and live abroad, in Germany or Jerusalem if he likes, the farther the better

the door ma

s that? Letters? Give them to me; and why the devi

t greedily, and then began

ldn't use wuss langwidge if he was a dook, dam 'im!-Yessir,"

hard, holding out a letter more tha

directed with the h'others." The angry glare of the black e

e, "except that I should have had this instantly. Can't you see it's marked

amber, wiped his forehead, drank a tumbler of brandy, and finally sat

EL, PLYMOUTH,"

EAR J

dings, and unless Mr. Richard Devine receives his "wife" with due propriety, he'll find hims

as ever

AR

, Esq., "North End

. My account at Mastermann's is overdrawn two thousand pounds. If I bolt at all, I must bolt at once-within twenty-four hours. Rich as I am, I don't suppose I could raise more than five thousand pounds in that time. These things take a day or two, say forty-eight hours. In forty-eight hours I could raise twenty thousand pounds, but forty-eight hours is too long. Curse the woman! I know her! How in the fiend's name did she discover me? It's a bad job. However, she's not inclined to be gratuitiously disagreeable. How lucky I never married again! I had better make terms and trust to fortune. After all, she's been a good friend to