WILFRED MANWARING’S favourite branch of study was history, and to this he added a taste for antiquities, which, in part perhaps, though with a different effect, he had inherited from his father. When he had been at “Ehrenbreitstein” nearly six months, and shortly before the Christmas vacation, an old gentleman in the neighbourhood, who was a noted antiquary, and had a fine collection of ancient coins and medals, invited Dr. Massenger’s pupils to come over to inspect them. On the appointed day, it chanced that the young Duke had another engagement, but Wilfred gladly availed himself of the opportunity of seeing objects so closely connected with his favourite branch of study, and went over to Holborough for the purpose, accompanied by Cubleigh, who professed himself interested in such things, “from a purely æsthetic point of view.” Mr. Wilmot--for so the old gentleman was named--was delighted to obtain an audience to whom he might descant upon the beauty and the rarity of his treasures, and when he had finished displaying his coins, he turned to open a cabinet full of choice antique gems. While thus engaged, Mr. Wilmot chanced to be called out of the room, and left his guests to examine the precious stones by themselves. This was a great delight to Wilfred, who had never seen such fine works of art before, and he was soon engrossed in the examination of heads, figures, and groups cut by the subtle fingers of long-dead Greek and Roman artists. The gems, however, did not seem to suit the taste of Cubleigh, who presently left the recess in which the cabinet was placed, and went, as he said, to look at the pictures, of which there were some fine specimens by ancient masters upon the walls. In a few minutes Mr. Wilmot returned, and closed his coin chest regretfully, remarking, as he did so, that he had no one in the neighbourhood to sympathise with him in his taste for numismatics, and that his medals, which had scarcely seen the light for years, might be years longer before they were again brought out for exhibition. The old gentleman then proceeded to launch out into eulogiums upon his intaglios, in which Cubleigh now affected to take great interest; and so the morning passed away. After a good lunch, the two young men returned to “Ehrenbreitstein,” one of them at least well pleased, and the other perhaps well satisfied, with the morning’s excursion. About a week after this visit, when the three young men were all sitting at their studies, according to their wont, in the dining-room, an old-fashioned, ramshackle gig drove furiously up to the front door, and a moment afterwards the servant entered, and informed Dr. Massenger that Mr. Wilmot was in the drawing-room, and desired to see him immediately on important business.