a brocade night-gown, deeply furred with sables, and one foot into a velvet slipper, while the other pressed in primitive nudity the rich carpet-his Grace, without thinking farther on the assembly without, began to pen a few lines of a satirical poem; then suddenly stopped-threw the pen into the chimney-exclaimed that his humour was past, and asked his attendant if there were any letters. Jerningham produced a huge packet.

"What the devil!" said his Grace, "do you think I will read all these? I am like Clarence, who asked a cup of wine, and was soused into a butt of sack. I mean is there any thing which presses?"

"This letter, your Grace," said Jerningham, "concerning the Yorkshire mortgage."

"Did I not bid thee carry it to old Gatheral, my steward?"

"I did, my lord," answered the other; " but Gatheral says there are difficulties."

"Let the usurers foreclose, then--there is no difficulty in that; and out of an hundred manors I shall scarce miss one," answered the Duke. “And hark ye, bring me my chocolate."

"Nay, my lord, Gatheral does not say it is impossible--only difficult."

"And what is the use of him, if he can not make it easy? But you are all born to make difficulties," replied the Duke.

Nay, if your Grace approves the terms in this schedule, and pleases to sign it, Gatheral will undertake for the matter," answered Jerningham.

"And could you not have said so at first, you blockhead," said the Duke, signing the paper without looking at the contents--"What other letters? And remember, I must be plagued with no more business."

"Billets-doux, my Lord-five or six of them. This left at the porter's lodge by a vizard mask.”

"Psha!" answered the Duke, tossing them over, while the attendant assisted in dressing him-" an acquaintance of a quarter's standing."

This given to one of the pages by my Lady -'s waiting woman.

"Plague on it-a Jeremiade on the subject of perjury and treachery, and not a single new line to the old tune," said the Duke, glancing over the billet. "Here is the old cant-cruel man-broken vows

Heaven's just revenge. Why the woman is thinking of murder-not of love. No one should pretend to write upon so threadbare a topic without having at least some novelty of expression. The despairing Araminta-Lie there fair desperate. And this-how comes-it?"

"Flung into the window of the hall, by a fellow who ran off at full speed," answered Jerningham.

"This is a better text," said the Duke; "and yet it is an old one too-three weeks old at least-The little Countess with the jealous Lord-I should not care a farthing for her, save for that same jealous lord-Plague on't, and he's gone down. to the country-this evening-in silence and safety-written with a quill pulled from the wing of Cupid-Your ladyship has left him pen-feathers enough to fly away with-better clipped his wings when you had caught him, my lady-And so confident of her Buckingham's faith-I hate confidence in a young person She must be taught better-I will not go.

"Your Grace will not be so cruel," said Jerningham.

Thou art a compassionate fellow, Jerningham; but conceit must be punished."

"But if your Lordship should resume your fancy for her?"

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Why, then, you must swear the billet-doux miscarried," answered the Duke. "And stay, a thought strikes me-it shall miscarry in great style. VOL. II.

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Hark ye-Is-what is the fellow's name-the poet -is he yonder?"

"There are six gentlemen, sir, who, from the reams of paper in their pockets, and the threadbare seams at their elbows, appear to wear the livery of the muses."

“Poetical once more, Jerningham. He, I mean, who wrote the last lampoon," said the Duke.

"To whom your Grace said you owed five pieces and a beating," replied Jerningham.

"The money for his satire, and the cudgel for his praise-Good-Find him, give him the five pieces, and thrust the Countess's billet-doux-Hold-take Araminta's and the rest of them—thrust them all into his portfolio-All will come out at the Wit's Coffeehouse; and if the promulgator be not cudgelled into all the colours of the rainbow, there is no spite in woman, no faith in crabtree, or pith in heart of oak -Araminta's wrath alone would overburthen one pair of mortal shoulders."

"But, my Lord Duke," said his attendant, "this Settle is so dull a rascal, that nothing he can write will take."

"Then as we have given him steel to head the arrow," said the Duke, "we will give him wings to waft it with-wood, he has enough of his own to make a shaft or bolt of. Hand me my own unfinished lampoon-give it to him with the letters--let him make what he can of them all."

"My Lord Duke--I crave pardon--but your Grace's style will be discovered; and though the ladies' names are not at the letters, yet they will be traced."

"I would have it so, you blockhead. Have you lived with me so long, and can not discover that the eclat of an intrigue is, with me, worth all the rest of it?"

"But the danger, my Lord Duke?” replied Jern

ingham. "There are husbands, brothers, friends, whose revenge may be awakened."

"And beaten to sleep again," said Buckingham, haughtily. "I have Black Will and his cudgel for plebeian grumbers; and those of quality I can deal with myself. I lack breathing and exercise of late." "But yet your Grace

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"Hold your peace, fool! I tell you that your poor dwarfish spirit can not measure the scope of mine. I tell thee I would have the course of my life a torrent--I am weary of easy achievements, and wish for obstacles that I can sweep before my irresistible

course."

Another gentleman now entered the apartment. "I humbly crave your Grace's pardon," he said, "but Master Christian is so importunate for admission instantly, that I am obliged to take your Grace's pleasure.

"Tell him to call three hours hence. Damn his politic pate, that would make all men dance after his pipe!"

I thank you for the compliment, my Lord Duke," said Christian, entering the apartment in somewhat a more courtly garb, but with the same unpretending and undistinguished mien, and in the same placid and indifferent manner with which he had accosted Julian Peveril upon different occasions during his journey to London. "It is precisely my present object to pipe to you; and you may dance to your own profit, if you will."

"On my word, Master Christian," said the Duke, haughtily, "the affair should be weighty, that removes ceremony so entirely from betwixt us. If it relates to the subject of our last conversation, I must request our interview to be postponed to some future opportunity. I am engaged in an affair of some weight." Then turning his back on Christian, he went on with his conversation with Jerningham.

"Find the person you wot of, and give him the papers; and hark ye, give him this gold to pay for the shaft of his arrow-the steel-head and peacock'swing we have already provided."

"This is all well, my lord," said Christian, calmly, and taking his seat at the same time in an easy chair at some distance; "but your Grace's levity is no match for my equanimity. It is necessary I should speak with you; and I will await your Grace's leisure in this apartment."

"Very well, sir," said the Duke, peevishly; if an evil is to be undergone, the sooner it is over the better-I can take measures to prevent its being renewed. So let me hear your errand without further delay."

"I will wait till your Grace's toilette is completed," said Christian, with the indifferent tone which was natural to him. "What I have to say must be between ourselves.'

"Begone, Jerningham; and remain without till I call. Leave my doublet on the couch.-How now? I have worn this cloth of silver a hundred times."

"Only twice, if it please your Grace," replied Jerningham.

"As well twenty times-keep it for yourself, or give it to my valet, if you are too proud of your gentility."

"Your Grace has made better men than me wear your cast clothes," said Jerningham, submissively. "Thou art sharp, Jerningham," said the Duke,

in one sense I have, and I may again. So now, that pearl-coloured thing will do with the ribband and George. Get away with thee. And now that he is gone, Master Christian, may I once more crave your pleasure?"

"My Lord Duke," said Christian, "you are a