knocked at his _quondam_ friend's door; and on the instant of its being--doubtless somewhat surprisedly--opened by Huckaback, who was undressing, Titmouse sprang towards him, let fly a goodly number of violent blows upon his face and breast--and down fell Huckaback upon the bed behind him, insensible, and bleeding profusely from his nose. "There! there!"--gasped Titmouse, breathless and exhausted, discharging a volley of oaths and opprobrious epithets at the victim of his fury. "Do it again! You will, won't you? _You'll_ go--and meddle again in other people's--you---- cu-cu-cursed officious"--but his rage was spent--the paroxysm was over; the silent and bleeding figure of Huckaback was before his eyes; and he gazed at him, terror-stricken. What had he done! He sank down on the bed beside Huckaback--then started up, wringing his hands, and staring at him in an ecstasy of remorse and fright. It was rather singular that the noise of such an assault should have roused no one to inquire into it; but so it was. Frightened almost out of his bewildered senses, he closed and bolted the door; and addressed himself, as well as he was able, to the recovering of Huckaback. After propping him up, and splashing cold water into his face, Titmouse at length discovered symptoms of restoration to consciousness, which he anxiously endeavored to accelerate, by putting to the lips of the slowly-reviving victim of his violence some cold water, in a tea-cup. He swallowed a little; and soon afterwards, opening his eyes, stared on Titmouse with a dull eye and bewildered air. "What's been the matter?" at length he faintly inquired. "Oh, Hucky! so glad to hear you speak again. It's I--I--Titty! I did it! Strike me, Hucky, as soon as you're well enough! Do--kick me--anything you choose! I won't hinder you!" cried Titmouse, sinking on his knees, and clasping his hands together, as he perceived Huckaback rapidly reviving. "Why, what _is_ the matter?" repeated that gentleman, with a wondering air, raising his hand to his nose, from which the blood was still trickling. The fact is, that he had lost his senses, probably from the suddenness, rather than the violence of the injuries which he had received. "I did it all--yes, I did!" continued Titmouse, gazing on him with a look of agony and remorse. "Why, I can't be awake--I can't!" said Huckaback, rubbing his eyes, and then staring at his wet and blood-stained shirt-front and hands. "Oh yes, you are--you are!" groaned Titmouse; "and I'm going _mad_ as fast as I can! Do what you like to me! Kick me if you please! Call in a constable! Send me to jail! Say I came to rob you--anything--blow me if I care what becomes of me!" "Why, what _does_ all this jabber mean, Titmouse?" inquired Huckaback, sternly, and apparently meditating reprisals. "Oh, yes, I see! Now you _are_ going to give it me! but I won't stir. So hit away, Hucky." "Why--are you mad?" inquired Huckaback, grasping him by the collar rather roughly.