"So did it, in fact, turn out. After much vacillation, with the last two numbers remained the final decision. One belonged to the Royal Duke, the other to Lord E------.
"'You shall have a hundred guineas for your chance, E------,' said the Duke; 'what say you?'
"'Your Ruyal Highness's wish is a command,' said he, bowing and blushing; 'but were it otherwise, and to any other than your Royal Highness, I should as certainly say nay.'
"'Then "nay" must be the answer to me also; I cannot accept of such a sacrifice: and, after all, you are much more worthy of such a treasure than I am,--I really only meant it for a present to Mori.'
"'A present, your Royal Highness!' cried he, horrified; 'I would n't give such a jewel to anything short of St. Cecilia,--the violin, you are aware, was her instrument.'
"'Now, then, for our fortunes!' cried the Duke, as he drew forth his ticket. 'I believe I 'm the lucky one: this is number 2000.'
"'Two thousand and one!' exclaimed Lord E------, holding up his, and, in an ecstasy of triumph, sat down to recover himself.
"'Here is the key, my Lord,' said one of the party, advancing towards him.
"He sprang up, and thrust it into the lock; in his agitation he shook the box, and a slight, soft cadence, like a faint cry, was heard.
"'The soul of music hovers o'er it still,' he exclaimed theatrically, and, flinging back the lid, discovered--Me! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, in a very smart white robe, with very tasty embroidery, and a lace cap which I am assured was pure Valenciennes, there I lay! I am not aware whether my infantine movements were peculiarly seductive or not; but I have been told that I went through my gamut at a key that even overtopped the laughter around me.
"'A very bad jest--a _mauvaise plaisanterie_ of the worst taste, I must say,' said Lord E------turning away, and leaving the room.
"I never rightly knew how the matter was afterwards made up, but certainly it was by his lordship's directions, and at his charge, that I was nursed, reared, and educated. My expenses at Eton and Oxford, as well as the cost of my commission, came from him; and it was only a few days ago, on learning his death, that I also learned the termination of my good fortune in life. He bequeathed me what he styled my 'family mansio,'--the fiddle-case; thus repaying by this cruel jest the practical joke passed upon himself so many years before."