supposed, the latter was on her guard as to where those meetings were held. The scheming but specious chevalier d'industrie continued to live principally in the South of France, where young Juan Considine, the first cousin, although he knew it not, of Gertrude's son, had become an object of interest to him. In pursuance of his usual system he had at first endeavoured to entangle the boy in some act of dishonesty which would place him irremediably in his power, but he failed in this, failed from the moment when Juan, suspecting him of a sharper's trick, recoiled from him in disgust.

Not many weeks after that occurrence Juan's aged relation died, leaving the boy his heir. The sum he inherited was not a large one, some twenty thousand francs at most; but to the legatee it seemed inexhaustible; and, impressed with a sense of its importance, he began to entertain vague and floating projects of enjoying his pleasure alone and without the coercion of his Mentor,

Peters. Fully aware was he that the latter would be unwilling to allow him any independence of action, and therefore taking advantage of the temporary absence of the man he had learned to dread, he, without making his movements known to anyone, departed suddenly for England.

It is not necessary to follow him through his travels, nor to depict his adventures in that portion of the 'world' of London which is open to the young, the rich, and the well looking. Suffice it that while spending the small fortune which he had rescued from the rapacity of Peters, he made the acquaintance of the Katie Reilly by whose instrumentality Mrs. Vaughan first heard of his existence. That was indeed a joyous time for the emancipated youth; for Katie's rule was very mild and pleasant, and poor Juan, who, from nature and habit was ill fitted to assume the command of his own little vessel, found it far more agreeable to be steered on his course by the bright Irish girl, than by the

coarse, tyrannical man who would hardly let him call his soul his own.

When Peters at last succeeded in tracing his former pupil, he was startled to find in how great a degree he had emancipated himself from his control. Katie was in very truth causing his money to fly; not that she was either more selfish or more extravagant than others of her class or kind, for she did but follow her instincts in making the best use of her own beauty and of Juan's money. She was rather sorry, too, for she was not quite heartless, when one day she found his purse nearly empty, and that months were wanting to the time when the half-yearly instalment of Juan's pitiful allowance of two hundred pounds per annum would become due.

Then it was that Peters stepped in, apparently to the rescue. He had seen Juan's grandfather (this was the tale he told), and though the old man's failing health and nerves would not allow him to see his grandson, he was willing to help him both with

VOL. II.

money and with interest. There was land in Canada which might one day be his, and the property required supervision, and the

eye

of one interested in its welldoing. That he had fixed upon one so inexperienced as Juan for a purpose sò important, might have convinced the least suspicious observer that the old man had been grossly misled by Peters also, it was evident to young Considine that, for reasons of his own, that individual was desirous to exile him from England, and from the house of his father's father. With this conviction strongly impressed upon him, he determined to keep a watchful eye around, and, while seeming to agree to Peters's proposal, he resolved to follow his own plans, independently and alone.

Katie shed a tear or two when she heard from Juan that his route for the New World had come, and that he must bid her farewell, perhaps for ever.

Bother the distance,' said she, with a

C

smile through her tears, find a lump of gold, and bring it home like a good boy.'

'But Katie, what do you say to coming with me? It is a great country, and I shall be rich there, and happy with you-but with that wretch Peters-'

"The thief of the world,' exclaimed Katie, energetically (she could be quite English in her talk when she chose, but her Hibernicisms amused her friends, and so the use of them had become a habit with her); but sure what's the man to you, agra? He's not your father, nor your uncle, nor no near friend, is he, at all?'

6

Friend? curse him, he's the worst enemy that ever a fellow had. But, Katie, think of the long voyage, and you at home; and then the strange country, and no friend in it when I arrive there.'

Find the money, boy, and then, my word, but you'll have friends enough.'

And with this characteristic bit of philosophy, but with no word of promised con