"'What are you doing with that gentleman?'
I asked.

"'He is unwell,' replied the ill-looking man,
'and I am helping him up-stairs to bed.'

"'That gentleman is a friend of mine. What
is the meaning of his being in this state?'

"'How should I know?' was the answer;
'I am not the guardian of the gentleman's
health.'

"'Well, then, I am' said I, approaching the
place where you were lying; 'and I prescribe, to
begin with, that he shall leave this place at
once.'

"I must own," continued Dufay, "that you
were looking horribly ill, and, as I bent over, and
felt your hardly fluttering pulse, I felt for a
moment doubtful whether it was safe to move you.
However, I determined to risk it.

"'Will you help me' I said, 'to move this
gentleman to his carriage?'

"'No,' replied the ruffian, 'he is not fit to
travel. Besides, what right have you over him?'

"'The right of being his friend.'

"'How do l know that?'

"'Because I tell you so. See, his dog knows
me.'

"'And suppose I decline to accept that as
evidence, and refuse to let this gentleman leave
my house in his present state of health?'

"'You dare not do it.'

"'Why?'

"'Because,' I answered, slowly, 'I should
go to the Gendarmerie in the village, and mention
under what suspicious circumstances I
found my friend here, and because your house has
not the best of characters.'

"The man was silent for a moment, as if a
little baffled. He seemed, however, determined
to try once more.

"'And suppose I close my doors, and decline
to let either of you go; what is to prevent
me?'

"'In the first place,' I answered, 'I will effectually
prevent your detaining me single-handed.
If you have assistance near, I am expected
to-night at Francy, and if I do not arrive there,
I shall soon be sought out. It was known that
I left Doulaise this morning, and most people
are aware that there is an auberge on the road
which does not bear the best of reputations, and
that its name is LaTête Noire. Now, will you
help me?'

"'No,' replied the savage. 'I will have
nothing to do with the affair.'

"It was not an easy task to drag you without
assistance from the place where you were
lying, out into the open air, down the steps, and
to put you into my conveyance which was standing
outside; but I managed to do it. The next
thing I had to accomplish, was the feat of
driving two carriages and two horses single-
handed. I could see only one way of managing
this. I led my own horse round to the gate of
the stable-yard, where I could keep my eye upon
him, while I went in search of your horse and
carriage, which I had to get right without
assistance. It was done at last. I fastened your
horse's head by a halter, to the back of my
carriage, and then leading my own beast by the
bridle, I managed to start the procession. And
so (though only at a foot pace) we turned our
backs upon the Tête Noire. And now you know
everything."

"I feel, Castaing, as if I should never be
able to think of this adventure, or to speak of
it again. It wears, somehow or other, such a
ghastly aspect, that I sicken at the mere memory
of it."

"Not a bit of it," said Dufay, cheerily; "you
will live to tell it as a stirring tale some winter
night, take my word for it."

Gentlemen, the prediction is verified. May
the teetotum fall next time with more
judgment!

"Wa'al, now!" said Captain Jorgan, rising,
with his hand upon the sleeve of his
fellow-traveller to keep him down; "I congratulate you,
sir, upon that adventer; unpleasant at the time,
but pleasant to look back upon; as many
adventers in many lives are. Mr. Tredgear, you
had a feeling for your money on that occasion,
and it went hard on being Stolen Money. It
was not a sum of five hundred pound, perhaps?"

"I wish it had been half as much," was the
reply.

"Thank you, sir. Might I ask the question
of you that has been already put? About
this place of Lanrean, did you ever hear of
any circumstances whatever, that might seem
to have a bearing— any how—on that question?"

"Never."

"Thank you again for a straightfor'ard
answer," said the captain, apologetically. "You
see, we have been referred to Lanrean to make
inquiries, and happening in among the
inhabitants present, we use the opportunity. In my
country, we always do use opportunities."

"And you turn them to good account, I
believe, and prosper?"

"It's a fact, sir," said the captain, "that we
get along. Yes, we get along, sir.—But I stop
the teetotum."

It was twirled again, and fell to David Polreath;
an iron-grey man; "as old as the hills,"
the captain whispered to young Raybrock, "and
as hard as nails.—And I admire," added the
captain, glancing about, "whether Unchrisen
Penrewen is here, and which is he!"

David Polreath stroked down the long iron-
grey hair that fell massively upon the shoulders
of his large-buttoned coat, and spake thus:

THE question was, Did he throw himself
over the cliff of set purpose, or did he lose his
way in the dusk and fall over accidentally, or
was he pushed over by some person or persons
unknown?

His body was found nearly fifty yards below
the fall, caught in the low branches of the trees