"Geoffrey Tempest, the world is before you--" I said, apostrophizing myself indolently--"you are a young man,--you have health, a good appearance, and brains,--added to these you now have five millions of money, and a wealthy prince for your friend. What more do you want of Fate or Fortune? Nothing,--except fame! And that you will get easily, for now-a-days even fame is purchaseable--like love. Your star is in the ascendant,--no more literary drudgery for you my boy!--pleasure and profit and ease are yours to enjoy for the rest of your life. You are a lucky dog!--at last you have your day!" I flung myself upon the soft bed, and settled myself to sleep,--and as I dozed off, I still heard the rumble of heavy thunder in the distance. Once I fancied I heard the prince's voice calling "Amiel! Amiel!" with a wildness resembling the shriek of an angry wind,--and at another moment I started violently from a profound slumber under the impression that someone had approached and was looking fixedly at me. I sat up in bed, peering into the darkness, for the fire had gone out;--then I turned on a small electric night-lamp at my side which fully illumined the room,--there was no one there. Yet my imagination played me such tricks before I could rest again that I thought I heard a hissing whisper near me that said-- "Peace! Trouble him not. Let the fool in his folly sleep!" V The next morning on rising I learned that 'his excellency' as Prince Rimânez was called by his own servants and the employés of the 'Grand,' had gone out riding in the Park, leaving me to breakfast alone. I therefore took that meal in the public room of the hotel, where I was waited upon with the utmost obsequiousness, in spite of my shabby clothes, which I was of course still compelled to wear, having no change. When would I be pleased to lunch? At what hour would I dine? Should my present apartment be retained?--or was it not satisfactory? Would I prefer a 'suite' similar to that occupied by his excellency? All these deferential questions first astonished and then amused me,--some mysterious agency had evidently conveyed the rumour of my wealth among those best fitted to receive it, and here was the first result. In reply I said my movements were uncertain,--I should be able to give definite instructions in the course of a few hours, and that in the meantime I retained my room. The breakfast over I sallied forth to go to my lawyers, and was just about to order a hansom when I saw my new friend coming back from his ride. He bestrode a magnificent chestnut mare, whose wild eyes and strained quivering limbs showed she was fresh from a hard gallop and was scarcely yet satisfied to be under close control. She curveted and danced among the carts and cabs in a somewhat risky fashion, but she had her master in Rimânez, who if he had looked handsome by night looked still more so by day, with a slight colour warming the natural pallor of his complexion and his eyes sparkling with