"Ruined?" said the young man. "Are you ruined, like me? Are you,

after a life of indulgence, come to such a pass that you can only

indulge yourself in one thing more? Are you" - he kept lowering

his voice as he went on - "are you going to give yourselves that

last indulgence? Are you going to avoid the consequences of your

folly by the one infallible and easy path? Are you going to give

the slip to the sheriff's officers of conscience by the one open

door?"

Suddenly he broke off and attempted to laugh.

"Here is your health!" he cried, emptying his glass, "and good

night to you, my merry ruined men."

Colonel Geraldine caught him by the arm as he was about to rise.

"You lack confidence in us," he said, "and you are wrong. To all

your questions I make answer in the affirmative. But I am not so

timid, and can speak the Queen's English plainly. We too, like

yourself, have had enough of life, and are determined to die.

Sooner or later, alone or together, we meant to seek out death and

beard him where he lies ready. Since we have met you, and your

case is more pressing, let it be to-night - and at once - and, if

you will, all three together. Such a penniless trio," he cried,

"should go arm in arm into the halls of Pluto, and give each other

some countenance among the shades!"

Geraldine had hit exactly on the manners and intonations that

became the part he was playing. The Prince himself was disturbed,

and looked over at his confidant with a shade of doubt. As for the

young man, the flush came back darkly into his cheek, and his eyes

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