termination. Alas! in the clothes of
the greatest potentate what is there but a man? I never felt my weakness
more acutely than now, Geraldine, but it is stronger than I. Can I
cease to interest myself in the fortunes of the unhappy young man who
supped with us some hours ago? Can I leave the President to follow his
nefarious career unwatched? Can I begin an adventure so entrancing, and
not follow it to an end? No, Geraldine, you ask of the Prince more than
the man is able to perform. To-night, once more, we take our places at
the table of the Suicide Club."

Colonel Geraldine fell upon his knees.

"Will your Highness take my life?" he cried. "It is his--his freely; but
do not, O do not! let him ask me to countenance so terrible a risk."

"Colonel Geraldine," replied the Prince, with some haughtiness of
manner, "your life is absolutely your own. I only looked for obedience;
and when that is unwillingly rendered, I shall look for that no longer.
I add one word: your importunity in this affair has been sufficient."

The Master of the Horse regained his feet at once.

"Your Highness," he said, "may I be excused in my attendance this
afternoon? I dare not, as an honourable man, venture a second time into
that fatal house until I have perfectly ordered my affairs. Your
Highness shall meet, I promise him, with no more opposition from the
most devoted and grateful of his servants."

"My dear Geraldine," returned Prince Florizel, "I always regret when you
oblige me to remember my rank. Dispose of your day as you think fit, but
be here before eleven in the same disguise."

The club, on this second evening, was not so fully attended; and when
Geraldine and the Prince arrived there were not above half a dozen
persons in the smoking-room. His Highness took the President aside and
congratulated him warmly on the demise of Mr. Malthus.

"I like," he said, "to meet with capacity, and certainly find much of it
in you. Your profession is of a very delicate nature, but I see you are
well qualified to conduct it with success and secrecy."

The President was somewhat affected by these compliments from one of his
Highness's superior bearing. He acknowledged them almost with humility.

"Poor Malthy!" he added, "I shall hardly know the club without him. The
most of my patrons are boys, sir, and poetical boys, who are not much
company for me. Not but what Malthy had some poetry too; but it was of a
kind that I could understand."

"