twice, or three times a guest at the proud man’s table.  The visits paid to the bank were rather to Mr Planner than for any other object.  Mr Planner only could give advice as to the alteration of the south wing of the hall:  Mr Planner’s taste must decide upon the internal embellishments:  then there were private and mysterious conversations in the small back room—­the parlour; nods and significant looks when they met and separated; and once, Michael called to see Planner after the hours of business, and whom should he discover in his room but Mr Bellamy himself, sitting in conclave with the schemer, and manifestly intent upon some serious matter.  What was the meaning of all this?  Oh, it was too plain!  The rebel Planner had fallen from his allegiance, and was making his terms with the enemy.  Allcraft cursed himself a thousand times for his folly in placing himself at the mercy of so unstable a character, and immediately became aware that there had never been any cogent reason for such a step, and that his danger would have been infinitely smaller had he never spoken to a human being on the subject.  But it was useless to call himself, by turns, madman and fool, for his pains.  What could be done now to repair the error?  Absolutely nothing; and, at the best, he had only to prepare himself, for the remainder of his days, to live in doubt, fear, anxiety, and torture.

In the meanwhile, Planner grew actually enamoured of the Pantamorphica Association.  The more he examined it, the more striking appeared its capabilities, the fairer seemed the prospect of triumphant unequivocal success.  In pursuance of his generous resolution, he communicated his designs to Allcraft.  They were received with looks of unaffected fright.  Without an instant’s hesitation, Michael implored his partner to desist—­to give up at once, and for ever, all thoughts of the delusion—­to be faithful to his duty, and to think well of his serious engagement.  “Your Association, sir,” he exclaimed in the anger of the moment, “is like every other precious scheme you have embarked in—­impracticable, ridiculous, absurd!” Planner, in these three words, could only read—­ingratitude—­the basest it had ever been his lot to meet.  Here was a return for his frankness—­his straightforward conduct—­his unequalled liberality.  Here was the affectionate expression of thanks which he had so proudly looked forward to—­the acknowledgment of superior genius which he had a right to expect from the man who was to profit so largely by the labour of his brains.  Very well.  Then let it be so.  He would prosecute the glorious work alone—­he would himself supply the funds needful for the undertaking, and alone he would receive the great reward that most assuredly awaited him.  Very delicately did Michael hint to his partner, that his—­Planner’s—­funds existed, with his castles and associations, in the unsubstantial air, and no where else; but not so delicately as to avoid heaping fuel on the fire which he had