"Show him in," said the duke, rather nervously, adding to the earl in a hurried whisper,--"now be calm--my dear Dreddlington--be calm--it will be over in a few minutes' time."--The earl's lips quivered a little, his thin white hands trembled, and his eyes were directed towards the door with a look of most mournful apprehension, as the fiend entered. Mr. Gammon was pale, and evidently nervous and excited; his habitual self-command, however, would have concealed it from any but a practised observer. What a glance was that with which he first saw the earl!--"It gives me deep pain, my Lord," said he, in a low tone, slowly advancing with an air of profound deference and sympathy, "to perceive that you have been so great a sufferer." "Will you take a chair, sir?" said the duke, pointing to one which the servant had brought for him, and in which Gammon sat down, with a courteous inclination towards the duke; and observing that Lord Dreddlington's face had become suddenly flushed, while his lips moved as if he were speaking, "You see," added his Grace, "that my Lord Dreddlington is but slowly recovering!"--Gammon sighed, and gazed at the earl with an expression of infinite concern. "_Is it true, sir?_" inquired the earl, after a moment's interval of silence--evidently with a desperate effort. Gammon felt both of his companions eying him intently, as he answered calmly--"Alas!--your Lordship of course alludes to that unhappy Company"---- "Is it true, sir?" repeated the earl, altogether disregarding Gammon's attempt at evasion. "You cannot but be aware, Mr. Gammon, of the subject to which my Lord Dreddlington is alluding"--said the duke, sternly, in a low tone. "Oh!" exclaimed Gammon, with a slight shrug of his shoulders and a sigh--"I understand that your Lordship is referring to some conversation which you supposed has passed between your Lordship and me concerning Mr. Titmouse!" "Sir--sir--yes! yes!" gasped the earl, gazing at him intently. "Well, my Lord, I have heard with inexpressible astonishment that you suppose I told your Lordship that he was _illegitimate_." "Ay," said the earl, with tremulous eagerness. "Oh, my Lord, you are really laboring under as complete a delusion as ever man"--commenced Gammon, with a melancholy smile. "Sir--Mr. Gammon--do you believe that there is NO GOD?--that HE does not know the--the"--interrupted the earl, but ceased, apparently overpowered by his emotions. Gammon looked in appealing silence at the duke. "What makes you imagine, sir, that I am bereft of reason and memory?" presently inquired the earl, with a strength of voice and manner which alarmed Gammon. "I cannot account, my Lord, for the extraordinary hallucination which seems"---- "And I suppose, sir, I am equally dreaming about the rent-charge for two thousand a-year, which you have got on the Yatton pro"----