"Let me never see his face again!" replied the earl, feebly. "I have but a short time to live, and that time the sight of _him_, I feel, makes still shorter!" The duke looked both vexed and embarrassed. "Come--come--now he's here," continued his Grace, "and on a very important errand--let us have done with the fellow--let us have him back, and I'll tell him you withdraw"---- "Withdraw? He _is_ withdrawn," replied the earl, confusedly. "What d'ye mean, my dear Dreddlington? I say--let me tell him"---- "I mean, it was at his chambers, in Holborn--I pledge my honor, I recollect as if it were yester"---- "Pho, pho!" cried the duke, rather impatiently--"it must be done! He's come on matters of the very last importance--the thing's been put off to the very latest moment on your account--that cursed Company!" The earl looked up at his companion, and a faint smile flitted over his wasted features. "Ah--I'm now satisfied," said he, shaking his head--"that they must dig a very great depth, indeed, before they come to the copper." The duke looked puzzled, but said hastily, "That's right!--I'll have him back, and you'll allow me to say it's all a mistake?" "Certainly--I am satisfied of it." "That will do, my dear Dreddlington!--That's the way such nonsense _should_ be put an end to," said the duke, and, ringing the bell, ordered the servant to request Mr. Gammon to return. After a brief interval, that gentleman re-entered the library, but with some sternness and reluctance of manner. "Mr. Gammon," replied the duke, a little quickly, "my Lord Dreddlington owns he was mistaken--he, of course, withdraws the expression--so we had better at once to business"---- "Ay--certainly!--certainly! Have you the papers with you, Mr. Gammon?" inquired the earl, while his trembling fingers held his gold spectacles. Mr. Gammon bowed rather haughtily, and resuming the chair he had quitted, drew it to the table, and opened a little packet. "It was a ridiculous affair, I am afraid, sir," said the earl, addressing Mr. Gammon, who felt a little surprised at the altered look and tone of the earl. "I fear it was extremely _unfortunate_, my Lord, in its issue," he replied gravely, arranging his papers. "The thing did not look so absurd _at first_, Tantallan, I assure you!" said the earl, addressing the duke, who was eying Mr. Gammon's movements with much anxiety; for he had come prepared to state the final result of long negotiations between the creditors and the directors and shareholders of the "Artificial Rain Company." "These things never do--at first," his Grace replied with a sort of sigh. "Just show us, Mr. Gammon," said the earl, "if you please, the diagrams and the sections of the strata"-----