I confess I was rather astonished at hearing
a man of business, like Richard Spanner,
so glib in the language of the betting-ring;
but it was quite clear his admiration at the
success of this splendid speculation had put
to rest his business prejudices.

For my own part, the news was highly
satisfactory, for I had a tolerably heavy
account against the fashionable Spanner;
sovereigns borrowed, shares of tavern bills
paid when we met and dined, and when he
left me to settle, over and above
considerable sums of cash paid for commissions
executed for him in Hardborough, while he
was at college. It was one of dashing
Harry's peculiarities that, although in the
society of cabmen, jockeys, or roué peers, he
was prepared to scramble half-crowns or
stand treat of champagne to any amount;
and that although he was pronounced
by that model of fast men, the Marquis of
Licard, "a jolly generous brick," still, in
visits to the country or quiet tête à têtes with
old friends, he never did pay for anything in
the shape of cabs, dinners, turnpikes, cigars,
or other trifles. The words, "you settle,"
or " put that down," came glibly to his
tongue; indeed, his talents for owing were
of the first order.

Omitting then, altogether, the trifles of
shillings and half-crowns which it was
impossible to set against a companion so frank
and amusing, there was due to me some five-
and-twenty pounds, which I could ill spare;
for, through the unfortunate failure of the
Royal Joint Stock Bank of Hardborough, in
which my funds were invested, my fortunes
had gone down, as Harry Spanner's had gone
up.

Accordingly, one morning, in my most
correct costume, I proceeded to my
schoolfellow's chambers in. St. James's Street,
where, at twelve o'clock, I found his
magnificently appointed cab at the door, and
himself in bed. The furnishing of his rooms, his
dressing gowns, dressing-table, pipes, and
nicknackeries, would have filled two chapters
in a French romance; the arrangements of
his breakfast-table, a third. He received me
(being alone), very cordially; kept me in a
roar with his dry, comic account of his own
doings, triumphs, and practical jokes.

In the midst of a roulade of fun, in which
everything truthful and honourable was
turned into ridicule, it was extremely difficult
for me to introduce the subject of my debt.
When I did, it was turned off with a joke—
" I was a screw," " a sobersides; " I could
not want the money, and so on. He laughed
me away, that day.

But, as I really did want the money, I was
obliged to call again and again, each time
observing increased signs of luxury and
expense.

On the last occasion Spanner, in his jolliest
manner, put into my hands an account drawn
up in that neat style he had been famous for
at school. There I found myself, to my amazement
charged with innumerable Cuba cigars,
turnpikes, half-crowns, and other items for
whips and gloves, which I had taken to be
exchanges of presents, all duly extracted from
his embroidered pocket-book; and I then
learnt that Master Spanner's apparent jovial
carelessness did not prevent him from keeping
a most exact account on his side. He
handed me over, rather grudgingly, a draft
for the small balance in my favour, and we
parted.

When we met next it was at the
entrance of Kensington Gardens; he was riding
with Lord Foodle and Sir Jenyns Crash,
who levanted the same year. He cut me
dead.

From that time we never spoke; in fact,
he never saw me. We encountered each
other on several occasions, but he never
saw me.

I had been for some years quietly settled in
the country, as working partner with old Gorget
the surgeon, whose daughter I afterwards
married; and I had almost forgotten my follies
and fun with Harry Spanner, when I had to
pass through Hardborough on my way to
London, and staid a night to call upon a few
old friends. Among them, Bob Bracton—Bob
the Beau, he used to be called—asked me to
spend the evening, and observed: " By-the-
bye, you will meet your old churn, Harry
Spanner. Very much altered since his
unfortunate affair on the St. Lurndell's
Stakes."

So it was; the born dandy had found himself
on the wrong side of the hedge, had been sold
up to his last dressing-case, and was living in
the suburbs of Hardborough on an allowance of
a few shillings a week from his rich brothers,
on condition that he did not show his face to
them. At night he came to our little
réunion, the same man but how changed! As
impudent, assured, amusing as ever, nay more
amusing than ever—the same cold, sarcastic,
aristocratic face; but the fine waist, and
broad shoulders, lost in the form of a bloated
alderman. Dressed in a seedy sack coat,
buttoned to the throat, he advanced with as
grand an air as ever, shook me patronisingly
by the hand, crying, "Come, old fellow,
you must not be sulky with your Spanner.
Bracton says you complain that I cut you.
Why, my dear boy, that's nothing! I cut
my own father—did, upon my soul. I 'll tell
how it happened—but just let me light a
weed. Bracton, are these the Silvas I
recommended to you ? Hand me the brandy;—
never mind the water. What! No glass?
Ah, that's no consequence; my mouth holds
exactly a glass.

"Well, about cutting my respectable
parent. You see I was in the height of my
glory, just after the St. Sellem's Stakes had
come off all right. I was riding one Sunday
along the ladies' mile with Foodle,
Seattercash, Mrs. Pullaway, and Mademoiselle