t fifty per cent, that the world is glutted with; these are the
true game for a sporting gentleman, who would rather harpoon a shark any
day, than spear a salmon.'

'But what's become of Paul? Is he not available.'

'Don't you know what has happened there? But I was forgetting you 've
kept the house this week past. In the first place, La Belle Louise has
gone home, Paul has taken his departure for the circuit, and Mrs. Paul,
after three days' sharp hysterics, has left town for her villa, near
Bray--old Harvey finding it doubtless more convenient to visit her
there, with twenty guineas for his fee, than to receive one for his call
at Stephen's Green.'

'And what is supposed to be the cause of all this?' said I, scarce able
to conceal my agitation.

'The report goes,' replied he, 'that some bank has broke in Calcutta
or the Caucasus, or somewhere, or that some gold-mine in Peru, in which
Paul had a share, has all turned out to be only plated goods; for it
was on the receipt of a letter, on the very morning of Paul's departure,
that she took so dangerously ill; and as Paul, in his confusion, brought
the attorney, instead of the surgeon-general, the case became alarming,
and they gave her so much ether and sal-volatile that it required the
united strength of the family to keep her from ascending like a balloon.
However, the worst of it all is, the house is shut, the windows closed,
and where lately on the door-steps a pair of yellow plush breeches
figured bright and splendent as the glorious sun, a dusky-looking planet
in threadbare black now informs you that the family are from home, and
not expected back for the summer.'

'Perhaps I can explain the mystery,' said I, as a blush of shame burned
on my cheek. Read this.'

So saying, I handed O'Grady the letter, doubled down at the part where
Lord Dudley's mention of the Rooneys began. Grieved as I felt thus to
expose the absurd folly of my mother's conduct, yet I felt the necessity
of having at least one friend to advise with, and that, to render
his counsel of any value, a perfect candour on my part was equally
imperative.

While his eye glanced over the lines, I walked towards the window,
expecting at each moment some open burst of indignation would escape
him--some outbreak of passionate warmth, at the cold-blooded ingratitude
and malevolence of one whom previously we had regarded but as a fool.
Not so; on the contrary, he read the letter to the end with an unchang