Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Inreturn,IventureduponsomeofmyownreminiscencesofLondonlife,whichinterestedhimsomuch,thathevowedhewouldcomeuptoGrosvenorMansionsandstaywithme.Hewasanxioustoseethefastersideofcitylife,andcertainly,thoughIsayit,hecouldnothavechosenamorecompetentguide.ItwasnotuntilthelastdayofmyvisitthatIventuredtoapproachthatwhichwasonmymind.Itoldhimfranklyaboutmypecuniarydifficultiesandmyimpendingruin,andIaskedhisadvice—thoughIhopedforsomethingmoresolid.Helistenedattentively,puffinghardathiscigar.

           "Butsurely,"saidhe,"youaretheheirofourrelative,LordSoutherton?"

           "Ihaveeveryreasontobelieveso,buthewouldnevermakemeanyallowance."

           "No,no,Ihaveheardofhismiserlyways.MypoorMarshall,yourpositionhasbeenaveryhardone.Bytheway,haveyouheardanynewsofLordSoutherton’shealthlately?"

           "Hehasalwaysbeeninacriticalconditioneversincemychildhood."

           "Exactly—acreakinghinge,ifevertherewasone.Yourinheritancemaybealongwayoff.Dearme,howawkwardlysituatedyouare!"

           "Ihadsomehopes,sir,thatyou,knowingallthefacts,mightbeinclinedtoadvance——"

           "Don’tsayanotherword,mydearboy,"hecried,withtheutmostcordiality;"weshalltalkitovertonight,andIgiveyoumywordthatwhateverisinmypowershallbedone."

           Iwasnotsorrythatmyvisitwasdrawingtoaclose,foritisunpleasanttofeelthatthereisonepersoninthehousewhoeagerlydesiresyourdeparture.Mrs.King’ssallowfaceandforbiddingeyeshadbecomemoreandmorehatefultome.