“‘Well then, who is it?  Oh tell me at once.’

“‘Oh, my dear, there is no one in the case but ourselves;’ so saying, despite the injunction about the lace, I drew her towards me, and in as few words, but as clearly as I was able, explained all our circumstances —­my endeavour to better them—­my hopes—­my fears—­and now my bitter disappointment, if not despair.

“The first shock over, Mary showed not only more courage, but more sound sense than I could have believed.  All the frivolity of her former character vanished at the first touch of adversity; just as of old, Harry, we left the tinsel of our gay jackets behind, when active service called upon us for something more sterling.  She advised, counselled, and encouraged me by turns; and in half an hour the most poignant regret I had was in not having sooner made her my confidante, and checked the progress of our enormous expenditure somewhat earlier.

“I shall not now detain you much longer.  In three weeks we sold our carriages and horses, our pictures, (we had begun this among our other extravagances,) and our china followed; and under the plea of health set out for Baden; not one among our Paris acquaintances ever suspecting the real reason of our departure, and never attributing any monied difficulties to us—­for we paid our debts.

“The same day we left Paris, I despatched a letter to my aunt, explaining fully all about us, and suggesting that as I had now left the army for ever, perhaps she would interest some of her friends—­and she has powerful ones—­to do something for me.

“After some little loitering on the Rhine, we fixed upon Hesse Cassel for our residence.  It was very quiet—­very cheap.  The country around picturesque, and last but not least, there was not an Englishman in the neighbourhood.  The second week after our arrival brought us letters from my aunt.  She had settled four hundred a year upon us for the present, and sent the first year in advance; promised us a visit as soon as we were ready to receive her; and pledged herself not to forget when an opportunity of serving me should offer.

“From that moment to this,” said Jack, “all has gone well with us.  We have, it is true, not many luxuries, but we have no wants, and better still, no debts.  The dear old aunt is always making us some little present or other; and somehow I have a kind of feeling that better luck is still in store; but faith, Harry, as long as I have a happy home, and a warm fireside, for a friend when he drops in upon me, I scarcely can say that better luck need be wished for.”

“There is only one point, Jack, you have not enlightened me upon, how came you here?  You are some hundred miles from Hesse, in your present chateau.”

“Oh! by Jove, that was a great omission in my narrative; but come, this will explain it; see here”—­so saying, he drew from a little drawer a large lithographic print of a magnificent castellated building, with towers and bastions, keep, moat, and even draw-bridge, and the walls bristled with cannon, and an eagled banner floated proudly above them.