soon became interesting and complicated. Pedrillo was captivated by Emilie's pre-eminent beauty. Her innocence and sweetness touched all that remained of unextinguished goodness in his nature. The evil spirits look back with lingering affection to the heaven they have forfeited.

Layton, a man of lavish expense, found Pedrillo a most convenient friend. Pedrillo was profuse, but not careless. He had the acute habits of a man of business, and even in his pleasures he nicely balanced the amount he gave against the consideration he expected to receive. When, therefore, he from time to time, lent Jasper Layton large sums of money, he gloried in the secret consciousness of the power he was accumulating. Their intimacy grew till Layton gave him the last proof of his confidence and good fellowship, by introducing him to a club of gentlemen who met privately every night at a gambling-house, and indulged there to great excess this keen and destructive passion.

Pedrillo had acquired in scenes of stirring excitement and imminent peril, such command over his turbulent passions, that to the eye of an observer the fire that was merely covered, seemed extinguished. So at least it appeared to Layton, when after a night of various fortune and feverish excitement, they emerged from their club-room, just as the city lamps were dimmed by the approaching day. "Pedrillo, my dear fellow," said Layton, 66 you are a philosopher; you win and lose with equal nonchalance-I-I confess it-I am giddy with my unexpected luck.”

66

Unexpected?" replied Pedrillo.

Yes, unhoped for; Pedrillo, I will tell you a secret. When I entered that room to-night I was utterly ruined." "A secret!-ha! ha!"

"A secret—yes, you might have guessed it, for God knows you were deeply concerned in it—but all scores are wiped out now, hey, Pedrillo? That last bragger cleared off the last five thousand-and my loss to that devilish fellow Martin, that is balanced too; thank Heaven I am my own man again; a timely whirl of the wheel it was. Fortune, blind goddess as thou art, I still will worship thee!"

"Do we visit her temple to-morrow night?" "Certainly."

66

Au revoir, then." They parted; Layton went one

way, intoxicated with success, humming glees and catches, now twisting his cane around his fingers, now striking it on the pavement, and even attracting the eye of the drowsy watchmen by his irregular movements. His spirits would have fled if he had penetrated Pedrillo's bosom, and seen the keen, vigilant suspicion he had awakened there.

The next night they met again at the gaming-table. Fortune maintained her perch on Layton's cards; Pedrillo lost large sums. Again they left the house together. Pedrillo appeared even more unmoved than he had on the preceding night. He congratulated Layton with as much seeming unconcern as if the subject in question were a mercantile speculation in which he had no personal concern. Layton was in ecstasies" You may defy the world, Pedrillo!" he said in a tone of the highest good humour, “and all its turns, tricks, and shufflings. Those poor devils we have left behind us are ready to cut their own throats, or mine. Zounds! my dear fellow, you are high-souled and whole-souled_"

66

'Have you heard from Miss Emilie to-day?" asked Pedrillo, rather abruptly, interrupting his companion's strain of lavish compliment.

"Yes."

"Does she permit me to follow her?"

Layton's elated tone was changed to one more conciliatory, as he replied, "Why, to tell you the truth, Pedrillo, she seems disinclined; and on the whole, we may as well consider the affair as ended."

"When did you come to that conclusion, sir?"

"When? what difference does that make, if it be a wise conclusion?"

"Do we meet to-morrow night?"

'As you please; after my run of luck, it does not become me to propose it."

"We meet then; and after we will speak of Miss Emilie."

"Eh bien; but of course, Pedrillo, you understand that I shall never consent to put any force on her inclinations.” 'You shall do as you choose"-and he added mentally, "you shall choose it, Jasper Layton, as surely as a man chooses life rather than death."

66

The next evening found them at their accustomed haunt. After Pedrillo and Layton had played one game, Pedrillo threw up the cards, alleging a pain and dizziness in his head. Another took his place. He continued to