complished master, the captain made a wonderful improvement. He learned the various secrets of the profession; and in less than six months he acquired sufficient knowledge to set himself up as a master. Never pupil honoured more the instruction of a master, than our Captain the unwearied exertions of the Conte. The latter himself was amazed at the ease and perception of Clanmer in comprehending the lessons, theoretically and practically given.-He pronounced him fully competent to match with any professor in Paris; and as to Englandyou will soon make a fortune."

66

"There may be some hills to climb," replied Clanmer, "but these attained, and we shall find the country smooth enough to our purpose.'

Before our two gentlemen quitted the French territory for the British capital, the Captain wrote to his mother, to acquaint her of his return home, conclud

ing his letter with the following decisive observations.

"The death of our protector was a dreadful evil to us at the time it happened; but cheer yourself with this reflection, that no diminution of our respectability in society shall occur. I cannot altogether inform you of the plans I have laid down for my future operations. These will be best descanted on personally, as it might be dangerous and hazardous to trust their full nature in a letter. Be comforted in the meantime; entertain your friends and connexions with the same display of splendour you have hitherto exhibited. You have money sufficient for this purpose until my arrival in London, when I hope to grant you enough to maintain the family in that style which it undoubtedly claims. ERNEST CLANMER."

By this letter it will be seen that the

Captain had gathered a full estimation of his mother's principles. He knew that she was perfectly indifferent to the means he resorted to in order to procure the money she wanted, provided he obtained it, and at the same time, forfeited not the outward aspect of honor.

CHAPTER II.

IAGO. With a little web as this will I ensnare as
great a fly as Cassio.

OTHELLO.

CAPTAIN CLANMER, pursuing his schemes with all the coolness and experience of a veteran rook, and assisted by the co-adjutation of the wily Italian who accompanied him to London, gradually amassed several thousands of pounds. The gains were divided in equal shares between them, and every sum they contrived to win from the inexperienced men they played with, was accounted for with the utmost punctuality and honesty. The expences, however, of Mrs. Clanmer's establishment in Montague Square was a heavy drawback upon

the Captain's industry. Not less than three thousand per annum was spent by her in the maintenance of that respectability for which the Captain had sunk his principles of honour. At the end of the third year of this career, he only possessed a clear sum of five thousand pounds. This was enormous comparatively speaking, but it was nevertheless much too trifling to meet the extravagant hopes of Clanmer, who felt himself disappointed at the smallness of the

amount.

He therefore cast his eyes around him in every quarter, in order to search for a pigeon that might serve his grasping inclination to a wider extent than the dull and tedious common-place method of gaining money; and who by bleeding copiously might place him in quicker possession of the sum he fixed his mind on gaining. Another consideration likewise crossed his brain as he dwelt upon the best course of acting; and this was,