result　in　no　benefit　to　anyone；　simply　in　misery　to　himself。　　The　true　Richard　Devine　was　buried　fathoms　deep　in　the　greedy　ocean　of　convict…discipline；　and　the　waves　of　innumerable　punishments　washed　over　him。　　John　Rex　flattered　himself　that　he　had　usurped　the　name　of　one　who　was　in　fact　no　living　man；　and　that；　unless　one　should　rise　from　the　dead；　Richard　Devine　could　never　return　to　accuse　him。　So　flattering　himself；　he　gradually　became　bolder；　and　by　slow　degrees　suffered　his　true　nature　to　appear。　　He　was　violent　to　the　servants；　cruel　to　dogs　and　horses；　often　wantonly　coarse　in　speech；　and　brutally　regardless　of　the　feelings　of　others。　　Governed；　like　most　women；　solely　by　her　feelings；　Lady　Devine　had　at　first　been　prodigal　of　her　affection　to　the　man　she　believed　to　be　her　injured　son。　But　his　rash　acts　of　selfishness；　his　habits　of　grossness　and　self…indulgence；　gradually　disgusted　her。　　For　some　time　shepoor　womanfought　against　this　feeling；　endeavouring　to　overcome　her　instincts　of　distaste；　and　arguing　with　herself　that　to　permit　a　detestation　of　her　unfortunate　son　to　arise　in　her　heart　was　almost　criminal；　but　she　was　at　length　forced　to　succumb。
  For　the　first　year　Mr。　Richard　conducted　himself　with　great　propriety；　but　as　his　circle　of　acquaintance　and　his　confidence　in　himself　increased；　he　now　and　then　forgot　the　part　he　was　playing。　　One　day　Mr。　Richard　went　to　pass　the　day　with　a　sporting　friend；　only　too　proud　to　see　at　his　table　so　wealthy　and　wonderful　a　man。　　Mr。　Richard　drank　a　good　deal　more　than　was　good　for　him；　and　returned　home　in　a　condition　of　disgusting　drunkenness。　　I　say　disgusting；　because　some　folks　have　the　art　of　getting　drunk　after　a　humorous　fashion；　that　robs　intoxication　of　half　its　grossness。　　For　John　Rex　to　be　drunk　was　to　be　himselfcoarse　and　cruel。　　Francis　Wade　was　away；　and　Lady　Devine　had　retired　for　the　night；　when　the　dog…cart　brought　home　〃Mr。　Richard〃。　　The　virtuous　butler…porter；　who　opened　the　door；　received　a　blow　in　the　chest　and　a　demand　for　〃Brandy！〃　The　groom　was　cursed；　and　ordered　to　instant　oblivion。　　Mr。　Richard　stumbled　into　the　dining…roomveiled　in　dim　light　as　a　dining…room　which　was　〃sitting　up〃　for　its　master　ought　to　beand　ordered　〃more　candles！〃　The　candles　were　brought；　after　some　delay；　and　Mr。　Richard　amused　himself　by　spilling　their　meltings　upon　the　carpet。　　〃Let's　have　'luminashon！〃　he　cried；　and　climbing　with　muddy　boots　upon　the　costly　chairs；　scraping　with　his　feet　the　polished　table；　attempted　to　fix　the　wax　in　the　silver　sconces；　with　which　the　antiquarian　tastes　of　Mr。　Francis　Wade　had　adorned　the　room。
  〃You'll　break　the　table；　sir；〃　said　the　servant。
  〃Damn　the　table！〃　said　Rex。　　〃Buy　'nother　table。　　What's　table　t'you？〃　〃Oh；　certainly；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。
  〃Oh；　c'ert'nly！　Why　c'ert'nly？　　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃
  〃Oh；　certainly　not；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。
  〃If　I　hadstockwhip　hereI'd　make　youhicskip！　Whar's　brandy？〃
  〃Here；　Mr。　Richard。〃
  〃Have　some！　Good　brandy！　Send　for　servantsh　and　have　dance。　D'you　dance；　Tomkins？〃
  〃No；　Mr。　Richard。〃
  〃Then　you　shall　dance　now；　Tomkins。　　You'll　dance　upon　nothing　one　day；　Tomkins！　Here！　Halloo！　Mary！　Susan！　Janet！　William！　Hey！　Halloo！〃　And　he　began　to　shout　and　blaspheme。
  〃Don't　you　think　it's　time　for　bed；　Mr。　Richard？〃　one　of　the　men　ventured　to　suggest。
  〃No！〃　roared　the　ex…convict；　emphatically；　〃I　don't！　I've　gone　to　bed　at　daylight　far　too　long。　　We'll　have　'luminashon！　I'm　master　here。　Master　everything。　　Richard　'Vine's　my　name。　　Isn't　it；　Tomkins；　you　villain？〃
  〃Oh…h…h！　Yes；　Mr。　Richard。〃
  〃Course　it　is；　and　make　you　know　it　too！　I'm　no　painter…picture；　crockery　chap。　　I'm　genelman！　Genelman　seen　the　world！　　Knows　what's　what。　There　ain't　much　I　ain't　fly　to。　　Wait　till　the　old　woman's　dead；　Tomkins；　and　you　shall　see！〃　More　swearing；　and　awful　threats　of　what　the　inebriate　would　do　when　he　was　in　possession。　　〃Bring　up　some　brandy！〃　　Crash　goes　the　bottle　in　the　fire…place。　　〃Light　up　the　droring…rooms；　we'll　have　dance！　I'm　drunk！　What's　that？　　If　you'd　gone　through　what　I　have；　you'd　be　glad　to　be　drunk。　　I　look　a　fool〃this　to　his　image　in　another　glass。　〃I　ain't　though；　or　I　wouldn't　be　here。　　Curse　you；　you　grinning　idiot〃　crash　goes　his　fist　through　the　mirror〃don't　grin　at　me。　　Play　up　there！　Where's　old　woman？　　Fetch　her　out　and　let's　dance！〃
  〃Lady　Devine　has　gone　to　bed；　Mr。　Richard；〃　cried　Tomkins；　aghast；　attempting　to　bar　the　passage　to　the　upper　regions。
  〃Then　let's　have　her　out　o'　bed；〃　cried　John　Rex；　plunging　to　the　door。
  Tomkins；　attempting　to　restrain　him；　is　instantly　hurled　into　a　cabinet　of　rare　china；　and　the　drunken　brute　essays　the　stairs。　　The　other　servants　seize　him。　　He　curses　and　fights　like　a　demon。　　Doors　bang　open；　lights　gleam；　maids　hover；　horrified；　asking　if　it's　〃fire？〃　and　begging　for　it　to　be　〃put　out〃。　　The　whole　house　is　in　an　uproar；　in　the　midst　of　which　Lady　Devine　appears；　and　looks　down　upon　the　scene。　　Rex　catches　sight　of　her；　and　bursts　into　blasphemy。　　She　withdraws；　strangely　terrified；　and　the　animal；　torn；　bloody；　and　blasphemous；　is　at　last　got　into　his　own　apartments；　the　groom；　whose　face　had　been　seriously　damaged　in　the　encounter；　bestowing　a　hearty　kick　on　the　prostrate　carcase　at　parting。
  The　next　morning　Lady　Devine　declined　to　see　her　son；　though　he　sent　a　special　apology　to　her。
  〃I　am　afraid　I　was　a　little　overcome　by　wine　last　night；〃　said　he　to　Tomkins。　〃Well；　you　was；　sir；〃　said　Tomkins。
  〃A　very　little　wine　makes　me　quite　ill；　Tomkins。　　Did　I　do　anything　very　violent？〃
  〃You　was　rather　obstropolous；　Mr。　Richard。〃
  〃Here's　a　sovereign　for　you；　Tomkins。　　Did　I　say　anything？〃
  〃You　cussed　a　good　deal；　Mr。　Richard。　　Most　gents　do　when　they've　bin　humdining　out；　Mr。　Richard。〃
  〃What　a　fool　I　am；〃　thought　John　Rex；　as　he　dressed。　　〃I　shall　spoil　everything　if　I　don't　take　care。〃　He　was　right。　　He　was　going　the　right　way　to　spoil　everything。　　However；　for　this　bout　he　made　amends…　money　soothed　the　servants'　hall；　and　apologies　and　time　won　Lady　Devine's　forgiveness。
  〃I　cannot　yet　conform　to　English　habits；　my　dear　mother；〃　said　Rex；　〃and　feel　at　times　out　of　place　in　your　quiet　home。　　I　think　thatif　you　can　spare　me　a　little　moneyI　should　like　to　travel。〃
  Lady　Devinewith　a　sense　of　relief　for　which　she　blamed　herselfassented；　and　supplied　with　letters　of　credit；　John　Rex　went　to　Paris。
  Fairly　started　in　the　world　of　dissipation　and　excess；　he　began　to　grow　reckless。　　When　a　young　man；　he　had　been　singularly　free　from　the　vice　of　drunkenness；　turning　his　sobrietyas　he　did　all　his　virtues　to　vicious　account；　but　he　had　learnt　to　drink　deep　in　the　loneliness　of　the　bush。　　Master　of　a　large　sum　of　money；　he　had　intended　to　spend　it　as　he　would　have　spent　it　in　his　younger　days。　　He　had　forgotten　that　since　his　death　and　burial　the　world　had　not　grown　younger。　It　was　possible　that　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton　might　have　discovered　some　of　the　old　set　of　fools　and　knaves　with　whom　he　had　once　mixed。　Many　of　them　were　alive　and　flourishing。　　Mr。　Lemoine；　for　instance；　was　respectably　married　in　his　native　island　of　Jersey；　and　had　already　threatened　to　disinherit　a　nephew　who　showed　a　tendency　to　dissipation。
  But　Mr。　Lemoine　would　not　care　to　recognize　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton；　the　gambler　and　rake；　in　his　proper　person；　and　it　was　not　expedient　that　his　acquaintance　should　be　made　in　the　person　of　Richard　Devine；　lest　by　some　unlucky　chance　he　should　recognize　the　cheat。　　Thus　poor　Lionel　Crofton　was　compelled　to　lie　still　in　his　grave；　and　Mr。　Richard　Devine；　trusting　to　a　big　beard　and　more　burly　figure　to　keep　his　secret；　was　compelled　to　begin　his　friendship　with　Mr。　Lionel's　whilom　friends　all　over　again。　　In　Paris　and　London　there　were　plenty　of　people　ready　to　become　hail…fellow…well…met　with　any　gentleman　possessing　money。　　Mr。　Richard　Devine's　history　was　whispered　in　many　a　boudoir　and　club…room。　　The　history；　however；　was　not　always　told　in　the　same　way。　It　was　generally　known　that　Lady　Devine　had　a　son；　who；　being　supposed　to　be　dead；　had　suddenly　returned；　to　the　confusion　of　his　family。　But　the　manner　of　his　return　was　told　in　many　ways。
  In　the　first　place；　Mr。　Francis　Wade；　well…known　though　he　was；　did　not　move　in　that　brilliant　circle　which　had　lately　received　his　nephew。　There　are　in　England　many　men　of　fortune；　as　large　as　that　left　by　the　old　ship…builder；　who　are　positively　unknown　in　that　little　world　which　is　supposed　to　contain　all　the　men　worth　knowing。　　Francis　Wade　was　a　man　of　mark　in　his　own　coterie。　　Among　artists；　bric…a…brac　sellers；　antiquarians；　and　men　of　letters　he　was　known　as　a　patron　and　man　of　taste。　His　bankers　and　his　lawyers　knew　him　to　be　of　independent　fortune；　but　as　he　neither　mixed　in　politics；　〃went　into　society〃；　betted；　or　speculated　in　merchandise；　there　were　several　large　sections　of　the　community　who　had　never　heard　his　name。　　Many　respectable　money…lenders　would　have　required　〃further　information〃　before　they　would　discount　his　bills；　and　〃clubmen〃　in　generalsave；　perhaps；　those　ancient　quidnuncs　who　know　everybody；　from　Adam　downwardshad　but　little　acquaintance　with　him。　The　advent　of　Mr。　Richard　Devinea　coarse　person　of　unlimited　me