hat? Many a better man than you has lived and died in
debt; and they can't put you in prison, you know, because you're a peer."
And I handed him his fourth tumbler.

'"But I hate to be in debt!" he shouted. "I wasn't born for it, and I
cannot bear it."

'"What can't be cured must be endured," said I, beginning to mix the
fifth.

'"And then, I've lost my Caroline." And he began to snivel then, for the
brandy had softened his heart.

'"No matter," I answered, "there are more Carolines in the world than
one."

'"There's only one for me," he replied, with a dolorous sigh. "And if
there were fifty more, who's to get them, I wonder, without money?"

'"Oh, somebody will take you for your title; and then you've your family
estate yet; that's entailed, you know."

'"I wish to God I could sell it to pay my debts," he muttered.

'"And then," said Grimsby, who had just come in, "you can try again, you
know. I would have more than one chance, if I were you. I'd never stop
here."

'"I won't, I tell you!" shouted he. And he started up, and left the
room--walking rather unsteadily, for the liquor had got into his head.
He was not so much used to it then, but after that he took to it kindly
to solace his cares.

'He kept his oath about gambling (not a little to the surprise of us
all), though Grimsby did his utmost to tempt him to break it, but now he
had got hold of another habit that bothered him nearly as much, for he
soon discovered that the demon of drink was as black as the demon of
play, and nearly as hard to get rid of--especially as his kind friends
did all they could to second the promptings of his own insatiable
cravings.'

'Then, they were demons themselves,' cried I, unable to contain my
indignation. 'And you, Mr. Huntingdon, it seems, were the first to tempt
him.'

'Well, what could we do?' replied he, deprecatingly.--'We meant it in
kindness--we couldn't bear to see the poor fellow so miserable:--and
besides, he was such a damper upon us, sitting there silent and glum,
when he was under the threefold influence--of the loss of his sweetheart,
the loss of his fortune, and the reaction of the lost night's debauch;
whereas, when he had something in him, if he was not merry himself, he
was an unfailing source of merriment to us. Even Grimsby could chuckle
over his odd sayings: they delighted him far more than my merry jests, or
Hattersley's riotous mirth. But one evening, when we were sitting over
ou