After anxious reflection, Mr. Gammon did not absolutely despair of extricating himself from the perils with which he was personally environed. As for certain fond hopes of political advancement, after which, indeed, his soul had so long pined, he did not even yet abandon the hope of being able to prevail on his friend at headquarters--to whom he had undoubtedly rendered considerable political services at no little personal risk--to overlook the accident which had befallen him, in the adverse verdict for the bribery penalties, even should he fail in his motion to defeat that verdict in the ensuing term. He had had indeed, a distinct intimation, that--that one obstacle removed--a very important and influential situation under government was within his reach. But, alas! this last overwhelming misfortune--how could he possibly evade or surmount it? What human ingenuity or intrepidity could avail to extricate him from the consequences of his insane avowal to Miss Aubrey--and his counter-statements to the Duke of Tantallan and Miss Macspleuchan--to say nothing of the Earl of Dreddlington? He resolved to risk it--to rely on his own resources, and the chapter of accidents. The mere presence of difficulty strung his nerves to encounter it. He resolved to rely on the impossibility of fixing him directly with a knowledge of the rottenness of Titmouse's pretensions--at all events, till a period considerably subsequent to the trial, and Titmouse's marriage with the Lady Cecilia. It occurred to him, as calculated, moreover, to aid his contemplated movements, if he could find a fair pretext for throwing overboard his partners, especially Mr. Quirk--satisfied that his own uniform caution had prevented him from committing himself to them--or at least had deprived them of means of proving it. He very soon met with an opportunity, of which he promptly availed himself.