ready for travelling, and his bill made out. He then went and secured a place in that night's mail, which was starting for town at half-past eight o'clock. At that hour he quitted Brighton, being the only inside passenger--a circumstance which gave him an ample opportunity for reflection, and of which doubtless he availed himself--at all events, certain it is, that he closed not his eyes in sleep during the whole of the journey. Greatly to the surprise of his laundress, he made his appearance at his chambers between six and seven o'clock in the morning, rousing her from bed. He had thus, it will be observed, reached town contemporaneously with his own letters; and as all the appointments which he had made, were for the day after that of his arrival, he had secured a twenty-four hours' freedom from interruption of any sort, and resolved to avail himself of it, by keeping within doors the whole of the time, his laundress denying him, as usual, to any one who might call. He asked her if she had seen or heard of the atrocious advertisement which had appeared in yesterday's paper? She replied, in tears, that she had; and added, that no doubt to that circumstance were to be attributed the calls made yesterday from morning to night--an announcement which seemed to heighten the excitement under which Mr. Gammon was evidently laboring. As soon as his lamp had been lit, he opened his paper-case, and wrote the following letter:-- "_Thavies' Inn, Wednesday Morning._ "DEAR HARTLEY,--As I have not missed an annual meeting of _our_ little club for these ten years, I shall be found at my place, to-night, at nine to a moment: that is, by the way, if I shall be admitted, after the execrable advertisement concerning me which appeared in yesterday's papers, and the writer of which I will give cause, if I can discover him, to repent to the latest day he lives. I came up this morning suddenly, to refute, by my presence and by my acts, the villanous falsehoods about my absconding. _Entre nous_, I am somewhat puzzled, just now, certainly--but never fear! I shall find a way out of the wood yet. Expect me at nine, to a minute,--Yours as ever, "O. GAMMON. "HARRY HARTLEY, Esq. "Kensington Square." This he sealed and directed; and requesting his laundress to put it into the office in time for the first post, without fail--he got into bed, and slept for a couple of hours: when he awoke somewhat refreshed, made his toilet as usual, and partook of a slight breakfast. "_You_ did not suppose I had absconded, Mrs. Brown, eh?" he inquired with a melancholy smile, as she removed his breakfast things. "No, sir; indeed I did not believe a word of it--you've always been a kind and just master to me, sir--and"--she raised her apron to her eyes, and sobbed.