threw out a spark of light.

"You are the men for me!" he cried, with an almost terrible gaiety.

"Shake hands upon the bargain!" (his hand was cold and wet). "You

little know in what a company you will begin the march! You little

know in what a happy moment for yourselves you partook of my cream

tarts! I am only a unit, but I am a unit in an army. I know

Death's private door. I am one of his familiars, and can show you

into eternity without ceremony and yet without scandal."

They called upon him eagerly to explain his meaning.

"Can you muster eighty pounds between you?" he demanded.

Geraldine ostentatiously consulted his pocket-book, and replied in

the affirmative.

"Fortunate beings!" cried the young man. "Forty pounds is the

entry money of the Suicide Club."

"The Suicide Club," said the Prince, "why, what the devil is that?"

"Listen," said the young man; "this is the age of conveniences, and

I have to tell you of the last perfection of the sort. We have

affairs in different places; and hence railways were invented.

Railways separated us infallibly from our friends; and so

telegraphs were made that we might communicate speedier at great

distances. Even in hotels we have lifts to spare us a climb of

some hundred steps. Now, we know that life is only a stage to play

the fool upon as long as the part amuses us. There was one more

convenience lacking to modern comfort; a decent, easy way to quit

that stage; the back stairs to liberty; or, as I said this moment,

Death's private door. This, my two fellow-rebels, is supplied by

the Suicide Club. Do not suppose that you and I are alone, or even

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