ar of that beast who is
watching us."

"It has been ordered otherwise," said Mr Palliser, not knowing what
to say.

"Yes; it has been ordered, with a vengeance! It seems to have been
ordered that I'm to go to the devil; but I don't know who gave the
orders, and I don't know why."

Mr Palliser had not time to explain to his friend that the orders had
been given, in a very peremptory way, by himself, as he was anxious
to bring back the conversation to his own point. He wished to give
some serviceable, and, if possible, permanent aid to the poor
ne'er-do-well; but he did not wish to talk more than could be helped
about his own wife.

"There is an old saying, which you will remember well," said he,
"that the way to good manners is never too late."

"That's nonsense," said Burgo. "It's too late when the man feels the
knot round his neck at the Old Bailey."

"Perhaps not, even then. Indeed, we may say, certainly not, if the
man be still able to take the right way. But I don't want to preach
to you."

"It wouldn't do any good, you know."

"But I do want to be of service to you. There is something of truth
in what you say. You have been disappointed; and I, perhaps, of all
men am the most bound to come to your assistance now that you are in
need."

"How can I take it from you?" said Burgo, almost crying.

"You shall take it from her!"

"No;--that would be worse; twenty times worse. What! take her money,
when she would not give me herself!"

"I do not see why you should not borrow her money,--or mine. You
shall call it which you will."

"No; I won't have it."

"And what will you do then?"

"What will I do? Ah! That's the question. I don't know what I will
do. I have the key of my bedroom in my pocket, and I will go to bed
to-night. It's not very often that I look forward much beyond that."

"Will you let me call on you, to-morrow?"

"I don't see what good it will do? I shan't get up till late, for
fear they should shut the room against me. I might as well have as
much out of them as I can. I think I shall say I'm ill, and keep my
bed."

"Will you take a few napoleons?"

"No; not a rap. Not from you. You are the first man from whom I ever
refused to borrow money, and I should say that you'll be about the
last to offer to lend it me."

"I don't know what else I can offer?" said Mr Palliser.

"You can offer nothing. If you will say to your wife from me that
I bade her adieu;--that is all you can do fo