t's a rare chance. If you'll wait
a bit I'll give you a full-dress rehearsal, entitled, 'Jerry Bundler;
or, The Nocturnal Strangler.'"

"You won't frighten us," said the commercial, with a husky laugh.

"I don't know that," said Hirst, sharply; "it's a question of acting,
that's all. I'm pretty good, ain't I, Somers?"

"Oh, you're all right--for an amateur," said his friend, with a laugh.

"I'll bet you a level sov. you don't frighten me," said the stout
traveller.

"Done!" said Hirst. "I'll take the bet to frighten you first and the old
gentleman afterwards. These gentlemen shall be the judges."

"You won't frighten us, sir," said another man, "because we're prepared
for you; but you'd better leave the old man alone. It's dangerous play."

"Well, I'll try you first," said Hirst, springing up. "No gas, mind."

He ran lightly upstairs to his room, leaving the others, most of whom
had been drinking somewhat freely, to wrangle about his proceedings. It
ended in two of them going to bed.

"He's crazy on acting," said Somers, lighting his pipe. "Thinks he's the
equal of anybody almost. It doesn't matter with us, but I won't let him
go to the old man. And he won't mind so long as he gets an opportunity
of acting to us."

"Well, I hope he'll hurry up," said Malcolm, yawning; "it's after twelve
now."

Nearly half an hour passed. Malcolm drew his watch from his pocket and
was busy winding it, when George, the waiter, who had been sent on an
errand to the bar, burst suddenly into the room and rushed towards them.

"'E's comin', gentlemen," he said breathlessly.

"Why, you're frightened, George," said the stout commercial, with a
chuckle.

"It was the suddenness of it," said George, sheepishly; "and besides, I
didn't look for seein' 'im in the bar. There's only a glimmer of light
there, and 'e was sitting on the floor behind the bar. I nearly trod on
'im."

"Oh, you'll never make a man, George," said Malcolm.

"Well, it took me unawares," said the waiter. "Not that I'd have gone
to the bar by myself if I'd known 'e was there, and I don't believe you
would either, sir."

"Nonsense!" said Malcolm. "I'll go and fetch him in."

"You don't know what it's like, sir," said George, catching him by the
sleeve. "It ain't fit to look at by yourself, it ain't, indeed. It's got
the--_What's that?_"

They all started at the sound of a smothered cry from the staircase
and the sound of somebody running hurriedly along the