“The pale moon shed its holy rays upon the disordered apartment, and as morning dawned, the lamplight flickered and died. “The moonlight lit his haggard face, as he lay half scowling in his sleep, and with fists tightly clenched, and hair disordered, he ground his teeth in dreams. “The vision of his life passed before him. “His mother’s face and form appeared as in his childhood, and looked with sadness upon him. “His schoolboy days and boyish loves caused him to sigh and smile, in unconscious sleep. “His false and early love for one sinless maiden he had ruined came next in view. “Following in the train of chiding phantoms wept his injured wife! “He ground his teeth most horribly, but laughed with demoniacal scorn! “The moon still lit his features. “Even in sleep, the spy has told me, his face assumed a look of intense horror and surprise. “He clutched the clothes convulsively, and shrieked out aloud, “‘My father! my father!’ and jumped from the bed in fright. “‘Where am I? Tell me. Fanny!—my wife! No, no; I didn’t do it! It cannot be!’ and he fell, gasping, upon the floor. “‘What a fool I am,’ said Phillip, with a laugh, when he had recovered his senses, ‘what a fool I am to think of such things—such childish, silly fancies as dreams! Yet that cursed figure haunts me—yes, everywhere, and I suffer all the torments of the damned. Where’s the brandy? that’s the thing!’ “Thus he raved, but he little thought one of my men was concealed in the chamber, and saw and heard all. “Having found a bottle partly full he readily emptied its contents, and Phillip went from the house to negotiate for the immediate sale of all its effects. “He was followed by my spy. “Whither his wife had fled was of little moment to Phillip. “His whole thoughts were directed to the sale of his goods and chattels. “He owed money it was true, but this he never intended to pay. “So that when he had negotiated the sale with a broker, and received a large sum of money therefor, he felt supremely happy, and went to his old haunts, and spent money so grandly and lavishly that many winked, and could not comprehend it. “The furniture, &c., had scarcely been removed from the premises, together with numberless etcetera, when the landlord arrived upon the scene, but, unfortunately, too late. “Numerous creditors were advised of the event, and were not slow in preparing very long bills for settlement, but when they reached the house, they simply found the place empty, with several other gentlemen, interested like themselves, standing round the door with long and very serious faces. “They had been ‘sold,’ they said, but whether this remark applied to the furniture or themselves is doubtful, although from their very blank countenances it is certain they would not have brought much at public auction.