"You look surprised, Oaklands, as well
you may; but when you hear what I have to tell, you will see that I do
not make this accusation without having good grounds to go upon ".

"I shall not stay here," said Cumberland, making an effort to recover
himself, and turning towards the door, "I shall not remain here to be
any further insulted; I wish you good-evening, Mr. Oaklands."

"Not so fast," said Oaklands, springing to the door, and locking it; "if
all this be true, and Fairlegh would not have said so much unless he
had strong facts to produce, you and I shall have an account to settle
together, Mr. Cumberland; you will not leave this room till I know the
rights of the affair. Now, Frank, let us hear how you learned all this."

"Strangely enough," replied I; and I then gave him an exact account of
all that had passed at the billiard-rooms, repeating the conversation,
word for word, as nearly as I could remember it, leaving Oaklands
to draw his own inferences therefrom. During the whole of my recital
Cumberland sat with his elbows resting on the table, and his face buried
in his hands, without offering the slightest interruption, scarcely
indeed appearing aware of what was going on, save once, when I mentioned
the fact of the door between the two rooms being slightly open, when
he muttered something about "what cursed folly!" When I had finished my
account Oaklands turned towards Cumberland, and asked in a stern
voice "what he had to say to this statement?" Receiving no answer, he
continued: But it is useless, sir, to ask you: the truth of what
Fairlegh has said is self-evident--the next question is, What is to be
done about it?" He paused for a moment as if in thought, and then
resumed: "In the position in which I now stand, forming one of Dr.
Mildman's household, and placed by my father under his control, I
scarcely consider myself a free agent. It seems to me, therefore, that
my course is clear; it is evidently my duty to inform him of the whole
affair, and afterwards to act as he may advise, Do you agree with me,
Frank?"

~89~~"It is exactly what I should have proposed, had you not mentioned
it first," was my answer.

"For God's sake, Oaklands, don't," exclaimed Cumberland, raising himself
suddenly; "he will write to my uncle--I shall be expelled--my character
lost--it will be utter ruin;--have pity upon me--I will get you back
your money, I will indeed, only don't tell Mildman."

"I have treated you up to the