enter into the gayety of conversation which appeared to be generally prevailing. My only consideration was how I should escape with the least awkwardness, and get home to read the letter which I had received from my father. My curiosity was strongly excited about it, and I felt anxious to know what motive could have dictated such a peculiar direction of secrecy and caution in receiving and reading it. The business which it related to, might require immediate action, and every moment that was lost might be of deeply unfortunate consequence. I accordingly made up my mind to retire from the table as soon as I could do so unobserved, and make my way home as speedily as possible.

I turned to the person sitting next to me, and asked him some question about the club. He told me that the rooms were open at all times, and that the members supped there every evening. A few minutes after, seeing that the attention of the company was at that instant engrossed by some peculiarly interesting topic of remark, I rose quietly from my seat and left the room.

When I reached the street door, I paused for a moment to see if my absence was noticed, for I thought it possible that Tyler or some other person might imagine from my abrupt departure that I was ill, and might come out to see what was the matter. As I stood there, a person came into the door, and at the same time some one entered the hall from a side room; the two men met and spoke to one another not seeing me, for I happened to be hidden from view by the shadow of a massive pillar in front of me. I lingered listening to their conversation from that sort of vague and mechanical curiosity which one has upon such occasions, and until I heard something that made me more than idly attentive.

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Well, Morton, when did you get back?" said the person who came from within.

"I reached town about an hour ago," said the other, "but without succeeding in the object of my journey. I got to Stanley as soon as horses could carry me there, but it was too late. I found that Thompson had

written to him, as we supposed-at least I inferred so from some remarks which fell from his lips, although I could get nothing from him directly. He either suspected my object, or his general habits of prudence kept him quiet. He is a sharp man, is Mr. Stanley; he deserves to have been a scoundrel. At night I made diligent inquisition among his papers for Thompson's letter, and found, by a memorandum, that it had been sent off that very afternoon, while I was in the house, to young Stanley here. There was not more than a moment that my eye was not upon him, but in that moment the mischief was done; an owl, you know, must cease its watch, to wink, and the brightest lamp will have its flickerings. Immediately I made this discovery, I set off in the hope of overtaking the messenger who had been despatched with the letter, but the same narrow failure again awaited me. The man whom I pursued did not arrive in town ten minutes before I did, and I made my way immediately to Stanley; I should have stationed myself in the house and obtained the packet by some means or other, but unfortunately Stanley had just gone out, I suspect with Harold, and, as I suppose the bearer of the letter must have met him in the street." Stanley," said the other, " is now in that room." "Indeed! I must tell Harold at once that he has got that paper in his pocket at this moment, as I have no doubt that he has," returned the other: "if he goes out of this house alive, he goes without that packet ;" and the two men went together into one of the side rooms, and closed the door.

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The letter to which this person alluded was, of course, the one which my father's servant had handed me, and which, as had been conjectured, I had then upon my person. What were its contents I could not imagine; but I could not doubt the eagerness to possess it which suggested so long a journey for that single purpose, nor misunderstand the principle of action which prompted the ferocious remark which last fell upon my ear. Knowing that my absence would be soon discovered, and suspecting that pursuit might be made, I ran as rapidly as

possible, till I came up with a hackney coach, into which I threw myself and ordered the man to drive me home as fast as he could.

As soon as I had reached my own house, I took the immediate precaution of having every part of it fastened safely, so that I might be relieved from the fear of any of those attempts to possess this mysterious letter, which the unscrupulous anxiety of these persons might prompt them to make. I then set down to examine the parcel. The envelope contained a letter from my father, and another letter directed to him. The latter I laid upon the table. The letter of my father was as follows:

"MY DEAR SON,

"I send you this letter and its enclosure by my confidential servant, as the latter is of too much importance to be exposed to the perils of the post. I counsel you at the outset not to read them in any exposed place, nor to suffer any one to touch the enclosed paper.

"That paper relates to circumstances of much concern to yourself and me. As you are probably unacquainted with the facts to which it alludes, I will briefly explain them to you.

"You are aware that for a considerable part of my life, and indeed up to some years after your birth, I was the possessor of a large fortune, the whole of which was subsequently lost to me. The circumstances of that loss were these: at a time when from various causes there was a general disposition among men of wealth to engage in large monied speculations, and a strong temptation to do so, I became acquainted with a Mr. Thompson, a man possessed of fine powers of mind, and bearing a high character for judgment and integrity. After a briefer knowledge, than prudence would have sanctioned, I conceived a warm friendship for him, and we became extremely intimate. An opportunity for a profitable investment of money in the East India trade presented itself at this time, of which Mr. Thompson was anxious to take that advantage which his talents and acquaintance with business would

necessarily give him he was, however, not master of capital enough to hope for much success. I at once became responsible for him in a considerable sum, which he adventured with good fortune, and from which he reaped a large profit. The obligation on my part was frequently renewed and always without loss, until I gradually became involved to the whole extent of my estate; at which epoch Mr. Thompson suddenly became bankrupt, and my whole fortune perished with his schemes. Most of his indebtedness was to a single person, Mr. Torrens, and to him my property was transferred. Mr. Thompson soon after left the country, and till recently, I never heard any thing about him.

"Last night, the accompanying letter was put into my hands. It is, as you will see, from him on his deathbed, and confesses the fraudulent nature of the transaction by which I was stripped of my fortune. He, it appears, was one of several persons who have for many years been leagued together for the purpose of aiding one another in their schemes; and I imagine that so much genius and so much depravity were never before united. Most of these men are in the highest ranks of society, and some of them are distinguished for character and consequence; and one or two are at this time occupying important situations under government. To such men it is manifest that reputation must be as dear as life, and the known possession of a secret like that communicated by Thompson might be fatal to the unwary possessor. Torrens was one of these persons, and of course, the obligation of Thompson to him was fictitious. He states, as you will see, that his engagements in commerce were undertaken at the suggestion of Torrens, who seems to have been the master-spirit of the company; and that their sole purpose was to involve me in the manner which I have described. These men are still pursuing their plans, though the names of none beside Torrens are mentioned. His mode of speaking of the incredible watchfulness and power of this party, suggested the caution which I gave you at first, respecting the secrecy to be observed as to this letter.

There is not enough stated by Thompson to vindicate my claims before a court of law; he says, however, that he has deposited other papers and deeds in the keeping of his private servant; and it is quite important that we should get them before any thing is known or done by Torrens or his friends. I shall take immediate steps for finding out this person, and will let you know if any thing is discovered. Meanwhile you cannot observe too much caution. Those whom we fear are probably near you.

"I offer you my congratulations on the prospect of recovering these estates, which will now be of very great value. You will hear from me again as soon as any thing farther has occurred.

"Your affectionate father,

"ATKYNS STANLEY."

I took up the letter which was enclosed in this; it contained little more than my father had stated. It said, however, with great emphasis, that the men against whom it gave information, were most formidable for their spirit and ingenuity; and that it was absolutely necessary that entire concealment should be preserved until the moment when all was prepared for action. Thompson seemed to labour under a feeling of the deepest terror, and when I remembered that the discovery which he so much deprecated had already taken place, I could not resist being a good deal agitated.

The surprise and alarm which these letters gave me may easily be imagined. It occurred to me at once that the person whom I had overheard in the hall of the club-house, must be the Torrens alluded to by Thompson, as he seemed likely to be the most interested of all in preventing the disclosures of that person. It was clear that he had obtained intelligence of the sending of this letter to my father, had reached his house before it was sent off to me, and was now aware that it was in my possession;-circumstances which exhibited an extent of watchfulness, and a promptitude of movement,