n as I can."

"I should like to know when that will be."

"So should I, Tim, for it must depend upon my finding out my parentage."
Heigho, thought I, when shall I ever find out who is my father?

Chapter XXX

The Major is very fortunate and very unfortunate--He receives a
large sum in gold and one ounce of lead.

I dressed and went out, met Harcourt, dined with him, and on my return
the Major had not come home. It was then past midnight, and feeling
little inclination to sleep, I remained in the drawing-room, waiting for
his arrival. About three o'clock he came in, flushed in the face, and
apparently in high good humour.

"Newland," said he, throwing his pocket-book on the table, "just open
that, and then you will open your eyes."

I obeyed him, and to my surprise took out a bundle of bank-notes; I
counted up their value, and they amounted to L3500.

"You have been fortunate, indeed."

"Yes," replied the Major; "knowing that in a short time I shall be
certain of cash, one way or the other, I had resolved to try my luck
with the L500. I went to the hazard table, and threw in seventeen
times--hedged upon the deuce ace, and threw out with it--_voila_. They
won't catch me there again in a hurry--luck like that only comes once in
a man's life; but, Japhet, there is a little drawback to all this. I
shall require your kind attendance in two or three hours."

"Why, what's the matter?"

"Merely an affair of honour. I was insulted by a vagabond, and we meet
at six o'clock."

"A vagabond--but surely, Carbonnell, you will not condescend--"

"My dear fellow, although as great a vagabond as there is on the face of
the earth, yet he is a peer of the realm, and his title warrants the
meeting--but, after all, what is it?"

"I trust it will be nothing, Carbonnell, but still it may prove
otherwise."

"Granted; and what then, my dear Newland? we all owe Heaven a death, and
if I am floored, why then I shall no longer be anxious about title or
fortune."

"It's a bad way of settling a dispute," replied I, gravely.

"There is no other, Newland. How would society be held in check if it
were not for duelling? We should all be a set of bears living in a
bear-garden. I presume you have never been out?"

"Never," replied I, "and had hoped that I never should have."

"Then you must have better fortune, or better temper than most others,
if you pass through life without an affair of this kind on your hands. I