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"'So you are tired of your life, young man! All the more reason have you to live Anyone can die A man It is very easy to draw the last breath It can be acco of far less anguish than the toothache, and all is over There is nothing heroic about it, I assure you! It is as co to bed; it is almost prosy LIFE is heroism, if you like; but death is a mere cessation of business And to ives the sign is always, to say the least of it, ungraceful Act the part out, nothe dagger lightly on one finger, as though it were a paper-knife, he smiled at me with so much frank kindliness that it was impossible to resist him I advanced and held out my hand

"'Whoever you are,' I said, 'you speak like a true norant of the causes which compelled me to---' and a hard sob choked my utterance My new acquaintance pressed ravity of his tone did not vary as he replied: "'There is no cause, my friend, which compels us to take violent leave of existence, unless it be madness or cowardice'

"'Aye, and what if it were erly He scanned htly on my wrist, felt my pulse

"'Pooh, my dear sir!' he said; 'you are no ht and excited--that I admit You have some mental worry that consumes you You shall tell me all about it I have no doubt I can cure you in a few days'

"Cure me? I looked at him in wonderhed 'Not I! I should be sorry to belong to the profession Yet I adive advice in certain cases I aent--not a doctor But why do we stand here in this bleak place, which hosts of olden heroes? Co to the Hotel Costanza, and we can talk there As for this pretty toy, perain to the unpleasant task of despatching its owner'