rtune--for such and no more had
it seemed--would never have chilled the generous glow of her woman's
heart, and I need not have shocked her self-love, nor insulted her
dignity, by telling her that she was the gambler's daughter."

As he was thus musing, the two travellers came out and seated themselves
in the porch; the elder one, needing a light for his cigar, touched
his hat to Davis, and muttered some broken words of German, to request
permission to light it from him. Grog bowed a stiff acquiescence; and
the younger said, "Not over-courteous,--a red Jew, I take it!"

"A travelling jeweller, I fancy," said the other; "twig the smart
watch-chain."

Oh, young gentlemen, how gingerly had you trod there if you only knew
how thin was the ice under your feet, and how cold the depth beneath
it! Davis arose and walked down the street. The mellow notes of a bugle
announced the arrival of the post, and the office must now open in a few
minutes. Forcing his way through the throng to the open window, he asked
if there were any letters for Captain Christopher? None. Any for Captain
Davis? None. Any for the Hon. Annesley Beecher? The same reply. He was
turning away in disappointment, when a voice called out, "Wait! here's
a message just come in from the Telegraph-office. Please to sign the
receipt for it." He wrote the name C. Christopher boldly, and pushed his
way through the crowd once more.

If his heart throbbed painfully with the intensity of anxiety, his
fingers never trembled as he broke the seal of the despatch. Three brief
lines were all that were there; but three brief lines can carry the
tidings of a whole destiny. We give it as it stood:--

"William Peach to Christopher, Neuwied, in Nassau.

"The Viscount died yesterday, at four p. m. Lawyers want A. B.'s address
immediately.

"Proceedings already begun."

Davis devoured the lines four--five times over, and then muttered
between his teeth, "Safe enough now,--the match as good as over!"

"I say, George," said one of the young travellers to his companion, "our
friend in the green frock must have got news of a prize in the lottery.
Did you ever see anything like his eyes? They actually lit up the blue
spectacles."

"Clap the saddle on that black horse," cried Grog, as he passed into the
stable; "give him a glass of Kirsch-wasser and bring him round to the
door."

"He knows how to treat an old poster," said the ostler; "it's not the
first ride he has taken on