om my astonishment;
'where is he now?'

"'Within a few yards of you,' said he, turning and pointing to the
closed jalousies of a room that opened on a small separately enclosed
garden; 'he is there.'

"There was something like secrecy, mystery at least, in his manner as
he said this, that prevented my speaking for a moment, and he went on:
'Yes, Maitland is in that room, stretched on his bed, poor fellow; he
has been severely wounded in a duel which, had I been here, should
never have been fought. All this, remember, is in confidence; for it is
needless to tell you Maitland is one of those men who hate being made
gossip of; and I really believe that his wound never gave him one-half
the pain that he felt at the bare possibility of his adventure being
made town-talk. So well have we managed hitherto, that of the men you
see here to-night--all of them intimate with him--one only knows that
his illness is not a malaria fever.'

"'But can you answer for the same prudence and reserve on the part of
the other principal?'

"'We have secured it, for the time at least, by removing him from
Naples; and as the laws here are very severe against duelling, his own
safety will suggest silence.'

"'Do you think Maitland would see me?'

"'I suppose he will be delighted to see you; but I will ascertain that
without letting him know that I have already told you he was here.
Remember, too, if he should receive you, drop nothing about the duel or
the wound. Allude to his illness as fever, and leave to himself entirely
the option of telling you the true story or not.'

"After a few more words of caution--less needed, if he only had known
how thoroughly I understood his temper and disposition--he left me. He
was back again in less than five minutes, and, taking me by the arm, led
me to Maitland's door. 'There,' said he, 'go in I he expects you.'

"It was only after a few seconds that I could see my way through the
half-darkened room, but, guided by a weak voice saying, 'Come on--here,'
I approached a bed, on the outside of which, in a loose dressing-gown,
the poor fellow lay.

"'You find it hard to recognize me, Lyle,' said he, with an attempt to
smile at the amazement which I could not by any effort repress; for he
was wasted to a shadow, his brown cheeks were sunken and sallow, and his
dark flashing eyes almost colorless.

"'And yet,' added he, 'the doctor has just been complimenting me on
my improved looks. It seems I was more