and then three times more firmly," said Mrs.
Slade; and as she spoke, she glided past us with noiseless tread.

"Shall we go up together?"

I did not object; for, although I had no delegated right of intrusion,
my feelings were so much excited in the case, that I went forward,
scarcely reflecting on the propriety of so doing.

The signal knock found instant answer. The door was softly opened, and
the unshaven face of Simon Slade presented itself.

"Mr. Jacobs!" he said, with surprise in his tones. "Do you wish to see
me?"

"No, sir; I wish to see Mr. Green," and with a quick, firm pressure
against the door, he pushed it wide open. The same party was there that
I had seen on the night before,--Green, young Hammond, Judge Lyman, and
Slade. On the table at which the three former were sitting, were cards,
slips of paper, an ink-stand and pens, and a pile of bank-notes. On a
side-table, or, rather, butler's tray, were bottles, decanters, and
glasses.

"Judge Lyman! Is it possible?" exclaimed Mr. Jacobs, the name of my
companion. "I did not expect to find you here."

Green instantly swept his hands over the table to secure the money and
bills it contained; but, ere he had accomplished his purpose, young
Hammond grappled three or four narrow strips of paper, and hastily tore
them into shreds.

"You're a cheating scoundrel!" cried Green, fiercely, thrusting his
hand into his bosom as if to draw from thence a weapon; but the words
were scarcely uttered, ere Hammond sprung upon him with the fierceness
of a tiger, bearing him down upon the floor. Both hands were already
about the gambler's neck, and, ere the bewildered spectators could
interfere, and drag him off. Green was purple in the face, and nearly
strangled.

"Call me a cheating scoundrel!" said Hammond, foaming at the mouth, as
he spoke,--"Me, whom you have followed like a thirsty blood-hound. Me!
whom you have robbed, and cheated, and debased from the beginning! Oh!
for a pistol to rid the earth of the blackest-hearted villain that
walks its surface. Let me go, gentlemen! I have nothing left in the
world to care for,--there is no consequence I fear. Let me do society
one good service before I die!"

And, with one vigorous effort, he swept himself clear of the hands that
were pinioning him, and sprung again upon the gambler with the fierce
energy of a savage beast. By this time, Green had got his knife free
from its sheath, and, as Hammond was closing upon him