ought of help. They denied it
me while it was yet time. They left me to starve or to rot in gaol, or
to hang myself! They left me like a dog, and like a dog I will die! I
would not have one iota taken from the justice--the deadly and dooming
weight of my dying curse." Here violent spasms broke on the speech of
the sufferer; and when, by medicine and his daughter's attentions, he
had recovered, he said, in a lower and calmer key:--"Is all quiet
below, Constance? Are all in bed? The landlady--the servants--our
fellow-lodgers?"

"All, my father."

"Ay; then I shall die happy. Thank Heaven, you are my only nurse and
attendant. I remember the day when I was ill after one of their rude
debauches. Ill!--a sick headache--a fit of the spleen--a spoiled
lapdog's illness! Well: they wanted me that night to support one of
their paltry measures--their parliamentary measures. And I had a prince
feeling my pulse, and a duke mixing my draught, and a dozen earls
sending their doctors to me. I was of use to them then! Poor me! Read
me that note, Constance--Flamborough's note. Do you hesitate? Read it, I
say!"

Constance trembled and complied.

"My dear Vernon,

"I am really au desespoir to hear of your melancholy state;--so sorry I
cannot assist you: but you know my embarrassed circumstances. By the
by, I saw his Royal Highness yesterday. 'Poor Vernon!' said he; 'would
a hundred pounds do him any good?' So we don't forget you, mon cher.
Ah! how we missed you at the Beefsteak! Never shall we know again so
glorious a bona vivant. You would laugh to hear L---- attempting to echo
your old jokes. But time presses: I must be off to the House. You know
what a motion it is! Would to Heaven you were to bring it on instead
of that ass T----. Adieu! I wish I could come and see you; but it would
break my heart. Can I send you any books from Hookham's?

"Yours ever,

"FLAMBOROUGH."

"This is the man whom I made Secretary of State," said Vernon. "Very
well!--oh, it's very well,--very well indeed. Let me kiss thee, my girl.
Poor Constance! You will have good friends when I am dead! they will be
proud enough to be kind to Vernon's daughter, when Death has shown them
that Vernon is a loss. You are very handsome. Your poor mother's eyes
and hair--my father's splendid brow and lip; and your figure, even
now so stately! They will court you: you will have lords and great men
enough at your feet; but you will never forget this night, nor the ag