nk I can estimate the esprit de corps you speak of."

"Nothing like it! nothing like it, by Jove! I 'll just tell you a story,
a little anecdote, in point. When we were in the Neelgharries, there was
a tiger devilish fond of one of ours. Some way or other, Forbes--that
was his name--"

"The tiger's?

"No, the captain's. Forbes had a devilish insinuating way with
him,--women always liked him,--and this tiger used to come in after
mess, and walk round where he was sitting, and Forbes used to give him
his dinner, just as you might a dog--"

The Castle clock struck three just at this moment. The Secretary started
up.

"My dear captain," cried he, putting his hand on Bubbleton's arm,
"I never was so sorry in my life; but I must hurry away to the Privy
Council. I shall be here, however, at four; and if you will meet me at
that time with the other security, we can arrange this little matter at
once." So saying, he seized his hat, bowed politely round the room, and
left us.

"Come along, Tom!" cried Bubbleton, taking me by the arm. "Devilish
good fellow that! Knew I 'd tickle him with the tiger; nothing to what I
could have told him, however, if he had waited."

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Barton, interposing between us and the
door; "Mr. Burke is in custody until the formality at least of a bail be
gone through."

"So he is," said Bubbleton; "I forgot all about it. So good-by, Tom, for
half an hour; I 'll not be longer, depend on it."

With this he shook me warmly by the hand, bustled out of the room, and
hurried downstairs, humming a tune as he went, apparently in capital
spirits, while I knew from his manner that the bail he was in search of
had about as much existence as the tiger in the Neelgharries.

"You can wait in this room, sir," said Barton, opening the door of a
small apartment which had no other exit save through this office.

I sat down in silence and in sorrow of heart, to speculate, as well as
I was able, on the consequences of my misfortune. I knew enough of
Bubbleton to be certain that all chance of assistance in that quarter
was out of the question: the only source he could draw upon being his
invention; the only wealth he possessed, the riches of his imagination,
which had, however, this advantage over any other species of property
I ever heard of,--the more he squandered it, the more affluent did he
become. Time wore on; the clock struck four, and yet no appearance of
Bubbleton. Another hou