the table of his father the of the from his youth had associated with all classes and tions of men indeed it was there that he made the acquaintance of who him in the street had asked him t dinner after the dishes were cleared one of the spanish officers rose and begged to be excused pleading some military duty when he had saluted his and gone suggested that they should play a game of cards this was an invitation which would have liked to decline but when it came to the point he did not for fear of seeming peculiar in the eyes of these brilliant men of the world so they began to play and as the game was simple very soon he picked up the points of it and what is more found them amusing at first the were not high but they doubled themselves in some fashion till was astonished to find that he was gambling for sums and winning them towards the last his luck changed a little but when the game came to an end he found himself the richer by about three hundred and fifty what am i to do with this ho asked colouring up ns with sighs which in one instance were genuine enough the pushed the money across to liim do with it laughed did anybody over hear such an innocent why buy your lady or somebody else s lady love a present no i ll tell you a better use than this you give us to morrow night at your lodging the best dinner that can produce and a chance of winning some of this coin back again is it agreed if the other gentlemen wish it said modestly though my apartment is but a poor place for such company of course we wish it replied the three as with one voice and the hour for meeting having been fixed they parted the walking with to the door of his lodging i was going to call on yon to morrow he said to bring to you a letter of introduction from my father though that should scarcely be needed as in fact we are cousins � second cousins only our mothers having been first cousins oh yes of the of whom my mother used to speak saying that they were to be proud of although she had met them but little well welcome cousin i trust that we shall be friends i am sure of it answered and putting his arm through s he pressed it in a peculiar fashion that caused him to start and look round hush muttered not here and they began to talk of their late companions and the game of cards which they had played an amusement as to the propriety of which intimated that he had doubts young shrugged his shoulders cousin he said we live in the world so it is as well to understand the world if the of a few pieces at play which it will not ruin us to lose helps us to understand it well for my part i am ready to risk them especially as it puts us on good terms with those who aa things are it is wise we should cultivate only cousin if i may venture to say it be careful not to take more wine than you can carry with discretion better lose a thousand than let drop one word that you cannot remember i know i know answered thinking of s supper and at the door of his lodgings they parted like most when made up his mind to do anything he did it thoroughly thus having under the dream of taken to give a dinner party he determined to give a good dinner in ordinary his first idea would have been to consult his cousins and after that monstrous story about the however which by inquiry from the coachman of the house whom he happened to meet he ascertained to be perfectly false this for the young man had some pride he did not feel inclined to do so in place of it he talked first to his landlady a worthy dame and by her advice afterwards with the first of a man of resource and experience the well knowing that this customer would pay for anything which he ordered threw himself into the affair heartily with the result that by five o clock of and other attendants were to be seen streaming up s staircase carrying every variety of dish that could be supposed to tempt the appetite of high class s apartment consisted of two rooms situated upon the first floor of an old house in a street that had ceased to be fashionable once however it had been a fine house and according to the ideas of the time the rooms themselves were fine especially the sitting chamber which was oak low and spacious with a handsome fireplace carrying the arms of its out of it opened his sleeping room � which had no other doorway � likewise with tall built into the wall and a magnificent carved not unlike the of a tomb in shape and general appearance the hour came and with it the guests the feast began the streamed up and down bearing of dishes from the inn above the table hung a six armed brass and in each of its a candle furnishing light to the company beneath although outside of its bright ring there was shadow more or dense towards the end of dinner a portion of the rush of one of these candles fell into the brass be the to burn up fiercely as it chanced by the light of this sudden who was sitting opposite to the door thought that he caught sight of a tall dark figure gliding along the wall towards the bedroom for one instant he saw it then it was gone my friend he said addressing whose 