the bill. As for the rest - "

He tossed them into the fire, and they went up the chimney in a

single blaze.

The young man tried to catch his arm, but as the table was between

them his interference came too late.

"Unhappy man," he cried, "you should not have burned them all! You

should have kept forty pounds."

"Forty pounds!" repeated the Prince. "Why, in heaven's name, forty

pounds?"

"Why not eighty?" cried the Colonel; "for to my certain knowledge

there must have been a hundred in the bundle."

"It was only forty pounds he needed," said the young man gloomily.

"But without them there is no admission. The rule is strict.

Forty pounds for each. Accursed life, where a man cannot even die

without money!"

The Prince and the Colonel exchanged glances. "Explain yourself,"

said the latter. "I have still a pocket-book tolerably well lined,

and I need not say how readily I should share my wealth with

Godall. But I must know to what end: you must certainly tell us

what you mean."

The young man seemed to awaken; he looked uneasily from one to the

other, and his face flushed deeply.

"You are not fooling me?" he asked. "You are indeed ruined men

like me?"

"Indeed, I am for my part," replied the Colonel.

"And for mine," said the Prince, "I have given you proof. Who but

a ruined man would throw his notes into the fire? The action

speaks for itself."

"A ruined man - yes," returned the other suspiciously, "or else a

millionaire."

"Enough, sir," said the Prince; "I have said so, and I am not

accustomed to have my word remain in doubt."

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