The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-02 00:00:00

of the party but felt, more or less acutely, what might, ti
not unaptly, be termed a momentary shock of astonish-
ment. No one could be a fairer talker than Sir Harry;
he allowed opportunity to every one for taking his share in
the conversation ; be never, as it were, elbowed himself in ;
but availed himself adroitly, and apparently without ef-
fort, of the first opening Upon this occasion, however,
he talked through every one that attempted to speak ; he
talked almost incessantly ; and, indeed, seemed to be un-
easy when he was constrained even to a short interval of
silence. He spoke, too, in a loud, overpowering tone of
voice, altogether contrary to his usual habit; and his
gaiety, ordinarily so distinguished by its suavity and its
subordination to the dictates of good taste, was boisterous
in the extreme, and sought to maintain itself by a recourse
to expedients the most common-place. Again, it was ob-
served that, oftener than once, he filled a bumper, drank
it off, and filled again before he passed the wine.
" There was some question about arranging a Vauxhall
party for the following evening, and Mr. Maurice B—
not perceiving that their host was whispering Laurent,
whn had just entered the room with a message to him,
turned round, and abruptly inquired, 'Highflyer, where
shall you be to-morrow night ?' Sir Harry turned sud-
denly at the question, fixed his eyes (which seemed to dis-
tend to twice their natural size) on the speaker, set his
teeth firmly together, and uttered a short, convulsive, fiend-
like laugh, as his only reply; at the same time grasping
Laurent by the fleshy part of his arm. A death-like si-
lence ensued ; not a soul present but felt a thrill of horror !
Lord Daslunore, indeed, who was raising his glass to his
lips, involuntarily threw it upwards with such force, that
it struck the ceiling and fell in fragments to the ground.
Poor Laurent, sinking almost on his knees, while tears of
agony were forced to his eyes, naturally and pathetically
cried out in his own language, Mais, mon Dieu ! Mon-
sieur, vous me faites mal—vous me faites mal, vous
dis-je.' Sir Harry relinquished his hold, drew his hand
across his forehead, filled a bumper, carelessly reproached
Colonel D—, who was assisting him in the duties of the
table, with exposing the bottles to an attack of the cramp
for want of motion, and, quite contrary to his custom,
volunteered to sing a song. All this occurred in infinitely
less time than it has occupied to describe it ; and, not-
withstanding the sensation was powerful, yet so rapidly
had the scene which occasioned it passed, that it was ex-
tinct before the next bumper went round.
" Sir Harry became—gayer? No—more boisterous
than before.

" Sir Charles F— remarked that they were thirteen
at table! ' Then one amonet us is booked for within the
year,' said Colonel D—, laughingly.
" ' A hundred guineas to five I am the man,' said Sir
Harry.
" Done !' excaimed Lord Dashmore, at the same time
drawing out his pocket-book for the purpose of entering
the bet : 'and in a twelvemonth and a day I shall wait
upon you for a cool hundred—for you'll lose.'
" ' Tis no bet, Dashmore,' said Sir Harry, with a bitter
smile, which no one but Maxwell noticed ; ''tie no bet,
so don't book it : no man is justified in making a bet when
he knows himself sure of winning.'
"It was growing late. Some one looked at his watch
and observed that it was almost time to break up. ' Don't
think of leaving me yet,' said Sir Harry—' for God's
sake.' And he rang for more wine, together with an-
chovy toasts, broiled bones, and other provocatives to
drinking. To most present the form of his appeal seemed
odd : to Maxwell it appeared awful !
" But the last, and most striking occurrence, of the
night, is now to be related. Sir Harry, it has already
been said, exhibited manifest signs of impatience at even
the short intervals of silence to which the give•and•take of
conversation occasionally subjected him. They threw him
back upon his own reflections. A question being put to
Colonel D_ respecting the storming of Padajoa, he de-
scribed just' so much of it as had come immediately under
his own observation (for he had been engaged in it); and
with so much force, vivacity, and picturesque effect, was
his short narrative imbued, that it engrossed the attention
of all present. It could not have occupied longer than
three minutes ; yet, when the Colonel had ceased speaking,
it was observed that Sir Harry was leaning with his el-
bow on the table, and his forehead in his hand. ' The
Baronet's off,' said one, and laughed. Sir Harry started
at the sound, mechanically filled his glass, and sent the
wine on. What the deuce is the matter with you, High-
flyer ?' exclaimed another ; 'your cravat is covered with
blood !" Nothing !'—replied he, putting his handkerchief
to_ his mouth—' Nothing--,a scratch—nothing—nothing
—fill—fill, and send the wine about.'—His appearance
was ghastly ; his features were distorted, his face was
deadly pale, and the blood was streaming front his nether
lip, which, in the intensity of mental agony, he bad nil.
consciously bitten nearly through !
" I have not seen the Baronet so much cut,' whispered
Colonel D-- to Lord Dashmore, who was sitting next
to him, ' since the hard bout we had at Melton last year.
Let's be off.'

"As the party retired, the successive Good night' of
each fell upon Sir Harry's ear. like a death knell ! It
struck like an ice-bolt to his heart ! He was a man of
' unquestionable courage,' as we have seen, but he could
not stand it; and as the three or four last were preparing
to leave the room, he cut short their valedictions by hastily
saying, do, that'll do.' Maxwell was the last to
retire. Sir Harry grasped his hand, and held it firmly till
he heard the street-door close upon the rest. ' Now you
may go, Tom ; those are mere friends of the hour, but you
and I have been friends from children. You knew my
poor father, and he loved you. Tilers'—and he shook his
hand waruily—' there—now go—Good night ; Heaven
bless you, Tom, Heaven bless you. Go—go.' Maxwell,
as he went out, said to Laurent, 'lt is probable your
master will not ring for you very early to-morrow ; be
sure you suffer no one to approach him till I come.' "