Sydney and I walked home in company, excusing ourselves from the others. It was a fine night, and we lit our cigars, and walked on for a while in silence, which Sydney was the first to break. "I wanted your company badly," he said; "my mind is troubled." "I am your friend, Sydney," I said. He returned the pressure of my hand. "Thank you, Fred. My mind is troubled about Mr. Pelham. There is no reason why he should not win from me as easily as, with luck on my side, I might win from him. But I am not satisfied. It appears to me that the numbers he backed and won upon were the numbers he intended to back and win upon. If so, it denotes design. How does it strike you?" "With you as banker, I will back numbers 5 and 24," I replied, "and will undertake to win a fortune of you in an hour or two. Always supposing that the wheel is the same as it was to-night." "It struck me as strange," he said thoughtfully; "until to-night my suspicions have not been excited. Had any of you won my money, I should have thought less of it. You were trying the wheel as I turned it, after play was over. Confirm or destroy the impression on my mind." "I must confirm it. The numbers Mr. Pelham backed have been tampered with." "Are you certain?" "Most certain." He lit a fresh cigar, and threw away the old one. "These things are not done without human agency, Fred." "Indeed not. Very skilful hands have been at work upon that wheel. Were it not that I desire not to risk your friendship, Sydney, which I value highly, I should impart something to you concerning Mr. Pelham which has come to my knowledge." He did not reply for a few moments, and then he said, "We tremble on the brink sometimes, but it is only cowards who fly. How beautiful the night is, Fred! The world is very lovely--the stars to me are living things. Even now, when I seem to feel that Fate has something horrible in store for me, they whisper peace into my soul. Ah, friend of mine! that a man's hope, and heart, and holiest wish should be at the mercy of a rickster! It is sad and laughable. This flower in my coat was given to me by Grace; it is dead." He made a motion as if he would fling it from him, but he restrained himself, and crushing it in his hand, put it into his breast pocket. As I looked at him with loving pity, he put his handkerchief to his mouth, and drew it away, stained with blood. "Sydney!" I cried, in alarm. "It is nothing," he said; "I have been spitting blood for a long time past. Now tell me what has come to your knowledge respecting Mr. Pelham. Do not fear--you will not risk my friendship, upon which you place far too high a value." I said simply, "He is not Adolph's cousin." "How do you know that?" "From Adolph himself; he and I have been speaking to each other in confidence." "What was the lad's motive in introducing Mr. Pelham to us with a falsehood?" "He did so by desire of Grace." "Then Grace must have been acquainted with Mr. Pelham."