“Hollo, my young friend, well met! This will be a night of trial to you. Empty stomachs produce weak nerves. Come along! you must dine with me. A good dinner and a bottle of old wine--come! nonsense, I say you shall come! Vive la joie!” While speaking, he had linked his arm in Morton’s, and hurried him on several paces in spite of his struggles; but just as the words Vive la joie left his lips, he stood still and mute, as if a thunderbolt had fallen at his feet; and Morton felt that heavy arm shiver and tremble like a leaf. He looked up, and just at the entrance of that part of the Palais Royal in which are situated the restaurants of Verey and Vefour, he saw two men standing but a few paces before them, and gazing full on Gawtrey and himself. “It is my evil genius,” muttered Gawtrey, grinding his teeth. “And mine!” said Morton. The younger of the two men thus apostrophised made a step towards Philip, when his companion drew him back and whispered,--“What are you about--do you know that young man?” “He is my cousin; Philip Beaufort’s natural son!” “Is he? then discard him for ever. He is with the most dangerous knave in Europe!” As Lord Lilburne--for it was he--thus whispered his nephew, Gawtrey strode up to him; and, glaring full in his face, said in a deep and hollow tone,--“There is a hell, my lord,--I go to drink to our meeting!” Thus saying, he took off his hat with a ceremonious mockery, and disappeared within the adjoining restaurant, kept by Vefour. “A hell!” said Lilburne, with his frigid smile; “the rogue’s head runs upon gambling-houses!” “And I have suffered Philip again to escape me,” said Arthur, in self-reproach: for while Gawtrey had addressed Lord Lilburne, Morton had plunged back amidst the labyrinth of alleys. “How have I kept my oath?” “Come! your guests must have arrived by this time. As for that wretched young man, depend upon it that he is corrupted body and soul.” “But he is my own cousin.” “Pooh! there is no relationship in natural children: besides, he will find you out fast enough. Ragged claimants are not long too proud to beg.” “You speak in earnest?” said Arthur, irresolutely. “Ay! trust my experience of the world--Allons!” And in a cabinet of the very restaurant, adjoining that in which the solitary Gawtrey gorged his conscience, Lilburne, Arthur, and their gay friends, soon forgetful of all but the roses of the moment, bathed their airy spirits in the dews of the mirthful wine. Oh, extremes of life! Oh, Night! Oh, Morning! CHAPTER IX. “Meantime a moving scene was open laid, That lazar house.”--THOMSON’S Castle of Indolence. It was near midnight. At the mouth of the lane in which Gawtrey resided there stood four men. Not far distant, in the broad street at angles with the lane, were heard the wheels of carriages and the sound of music. A lady, fair in form, tender of heart, stainless in repute, was receiving her friends!