ofher
fortune
.
"
Oh
!
fool
that
I
was
,
to
sign
that
paper
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
in
a
paroxysm
of
despair
.
"
Will
men
,
who
are
capable
of
such
villany
—
such
atrocity
as
this
that
they
have
practised
towards
me
,
—
will
they
remain
satisfied
with
a
portion
of
the
gold
that
has
allured
them
to
violate
every
principle
of
honour
and
humanity
?
Oh
!
no
—
no
!
and
perhaps
—
to
conceal
their
crime
the
more
effectually
—
they
will
not
hesitate
to
imbrue
their
hands
in
my
blood
!
"
Overpowered
by
this
idea
,
the
unhappy
woman
threw
herself
upon
the
bed
,
and
wept
bitterly
.
That
torrent
of
tears
relieved
her
;
and
in
a
few
minutes
she
grew
somewhat
composed
.
Then
came
reflections
of
a
less
painful
nature
.
"
Still
—
still
there
was
something
honest
in
the
appearance
of
that
stock-broker
:
there
was
something
feeling
in
his
words
!
He
was
performing
a
task
against
which
his
soul
revolted
.
He
commiserated
my
condition
:
oh
!
yes
—
he
sympathised
with
me
!
In
him
is
my
hope
—
my
only
hope
!
I
need
not
quite
despair
!
"
She
thus
reasoned
herself
into
a
state
of
comparative
calmness
;
and
then
a
feeling
of
weakness
came
over
her
.
She
grew
faint
—
her
head
swam
round
.
She
rose
,
and
walked
up
and
down
the
cell
to
dispel
the
sensation
that
thus
oppressed
her
;
and
suddenly
she
recollected
that
many
hours
had
elapsed
since
she
had
eaten
any
thing
.
Her
eyes
fell
upon
the
viands
which
the
Resurrection
Man
had
placed
on
the
table
;
and
she
hastened
to
break
her
long
fast
.
When
she
had
partaken
of
a
morsel
of
food
,
she
poured
some
wine
into
a
glass
and
drank
it
.
Scarcely
,
however
,
had
she
swallowed
the
liquor
,
when
she
felt
herself
overpowered
by
a
deep
drowsiness
;
the
glass
dropped
from
her
hands
;
she
rose
from
the
chair
,
advanced
a
few
paces
,
and
then
fell
upon
the
bed
in
a
state
of
insensibility
.
CHAPTER
CXIII
.
THE
LOVERS
.
THE
morning
,
which
succeeded
the
night
that
witnessed
the
incidents
just
detailed
,
was
clear
,
frosty
,
and
fine
.
It
was
one
of
those
winter
mornings
when
the
soil
is
as
hard
as
iron
,
but
on
which
the
sun
shines
with
gay
light
if
not
with
genial
heat
.
On
such
a
morning
we
walk
abroad
with
a
consciousness
that
the
exercise
benefits
us
:
we
feel
the
blood
acquiring
a
more
rapid
circulation
in
our
veins
;
we
soon
experience
a
pleasant
glow
pervading
the
frame
;
our
spirits
become
exhilarated
;
and
we
learn
that
even
Winter
has
its
peculiar
charms
.
Such
was
the
feeling
that
animated
Richard
Markham
,
as
,
after
alighting
from
a
public
vehicle
at
Richmond
,
he
proceeded
rapidly
along
a
by-road
that
led
through
the
fields
at
the
back
of
Count
Alteroni
's
mansion
.
His
cheeks
were
tinged
with
a
glow
that
set
off
his
handsome
features
to
the
greatest
advantage
:
his
dark
eyes
sparkled
with
an
expression
of
joy
and
hope
;
a
smile
played
upon
his
lip
;
and
he
walked
with
his
head
erect
as
if
he
felt
proud
of
his
existence
—
because
that
existence
,
in
spite
of
its
vicissitudes
,
was
protected
by
some
auspicious
star
.
O
Love
!
art
thou
not
a
star
full
of
hope
and
promise
,
like
that
which
guided
the
sages
of
the
East
to
the
cradle
of
their
Redeemer
?
—
like
the
welcome
planet
which
heralds
the
dauntless
mariner
over
the
midnight
seas
?
—
like
the
twinkling
orb
which
points
the
right
track
to
the
Arab
wanderer
of
the
desert
?
Richard
Markham
pursued
his
way
—
his
soul
full
of
hope
,
and
love
,
and
bliss
.
At
a
distance
of
about
a
quarter
of
a
mile
on
his
right
hand
,
the
mansion
of
Count
Alteroni
soon
met
his
eyes
,
surrounded
by
the
evergreens
that
,
in
contrast
with
the
withered
trees
elsewhere
,
gave
to
the
spot
where
it
stood
the
air
of
an
oasis
in
the
midst
of
a
desert
.
Markham
's
heart
beat
quickly
when
that
well-known
dwelling
met
his
view
;
and
for
a
moment
a
shade
of
melancholy
passed
over
his
countenance
,
for
he
recalled
to
mind
the
happy
hours
he
had
once
spent
within
its
walls
.
But
that
transitory
cloud
vanished
from
his
brow
,
when
his
eye
caught
a
glimpse
,
in
another
instant
,
of
a
sylph-like
form
that
was
threading
a
leafless
grove
at
a
little
distance
.
Richard
redoubled
his
steps
,
and
was
led
,
by
the
circuitous
winding
of
the
path
that
he
was
pursuing
,
somewhat
nearer
to
the
Count
's
mansion
.
In
a
few
minutes
he
reached
the
very
spot
where
,
in
the
preceding
spring
,
he
had
accidentally
encountered
Isabella
,
and
where
she
assured
him
of
her
unchanged
and
unchangeable
love
.
He
is
now
on
that
spot
once
more
:
—
he
pauses
—
looks
around
—
and
Isabella
again
approaches
.
Richard
rushes
forward
,
and
clasps
the
beauteous
Italian
maiden
in
his
arms
.
"
Isabella
—
dearest
Isabella
!
What
good
angel
prompted
you
to
grant
me
this
interview
?
"
he
exclaimed
,
when
the
first
effusion
of
joy
was
over
.
"
Do
you
think
me
indiscreet
,
Richard
?
"
asked
the
signora
,
taking
his
arm
,
and
glancing
timidly
towards
his
countenance
.
"
Indiscreet
,
my
sweet
girl
!
"
cried
her
lover
:
"
Oh
!
how
can
you
suppose
that
I
would
entertain
a
harsh
feeling
with
regard
to
that
goodness
on
your
part
which
doubtless
instigated
you
to
afford
me
the
happiness
of
this
meeting
?
"
"
But
when
we
met
here
—
seven
or
eight
months
ago
,
Richard
,
"
said
Isabella
,
"
I
told
you
that
never
—
never
would
I
consent
to
a
stolen
interview
.
And
now
—
you
may
imagine
—
"
"
I
imagine
that
you
love
me
,
Isabella
—
love
me
as
I
love
you
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
;
"
and
what
other
idea
can
occupy
my
thoughts
when
that
one
is
present
?
Oh
!
you
know
not
the
ineffable
joy
—
the
unequalled
pleasure
which
I
experienced
when
your
letter
reached
me
yesterday
.
I
recognised
your
handwriting
immediately
;
and
I
seized
the
letter
with
avidity
,
when
it
was
brought
to
me
in
my
study
.
And
then
,
Isabella
—
will
you
believe
me
when
I
tell
you
that
I
trembled
to
open
it
?
I
laid
it
upon
the
table
—
my
hand
refused
to
break
the
seal
.
Pardon
me
—
forgive
me
,
if
for
a
moment
I
feared
—
"
"
That
I
had
forgotten
my
vows
—
my
plighted
affection
,
"
faltered
Isabella
,
reproachfully
.
"
Again
I
say
pardon
—
forgive
me
,
dearest
girl
;
but
—
oh
!
I
have
been
so
very
unfortunate
!
"
"
Think
not
of
the
past
,
Richard
,
"
said
Isabella
,
tenderly
.
"
The
past
!
Oh
!
how
can
I
cease
to
ponder
upon
the
past
,
when
it
has
nearly
bereaved
me
of
all
hope
for
the
future
?
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
in
an
impassioned
tone
.
"
Not
all
hope
,
"
murmured
Isabella
;
"
since
hope
still
remains
to
me
!
"
"
Angel
that
thou
art
!
"
cried
Richard
,
pressing
the
maiden
's
hand
fondly
.
"
How
weak
I
am
,
since
it
is
from
thee
that
moral
courage
ever
is
imparted
.
"
"
You
were
speaking
of
my
letter
,
"
said
Isabella
,
with
a
smile
.
"
True
!
But
so
many
emotions
—
joy
and
hope
—
sorrowful
reminiscences
and
brighter
prospects
,
bewilder
me
!
I
will
,
however
,
try
to
talk
calmly
!
When
your
letter
came
,
I
feared
to
open
it
for
some
moments
:
I
dreaded
a
new
calamity
!
But
at
length
I
called
all
my
firmness
to
my
aid
;
and
a
terrible
weight
was
taken
from
my
soul
,
when
my
eye
glanced
at
the
first
lines
of
that
letter
which
suddenly
became
as
dear
and
welcome
as
a
reprieve
to
the
condemned
criminal
.
Then
,
when
I
saw
that
my
beloved
Isabella
still
thought
of
me
—
still
loved
me
—
-
"
"
Oh
,
I
did
not
tell
you
that
in
my
letter
,
"
exclaimed
Isabella
,
with
a
smile
of
bewitching
archness
.
"
No
—
but
I
divined
it
—
I
gathered
it
from
the
words
in
which
you
conveyed
to
me
your
desire
to
see
me
—
from
the
manner
in
which
you
said
that
at
eleven
o'clock
this
morning
you
should
walk
in
the
very
place
where
we
had
met
accidentally
once
before
—
oh
!
I
suddenly
became
a
new
being
:
never
was
my
heart
so
light
!
"
"
And
yet
I
said
in
my
letter
,
Richard
,
that
I
wished
to
see
you
upon
a
matter
of
business
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
Isabella
,
destroy
not
the
charm
which
makes
me
happy
!
Let
no
cold
thought
of
worldly
things
chill
the
heavenly
fervour
of
our
affection
.
Were
it
not
for
that
love
which
reciprocally
exists
between
us
,
how
should
I
have
supported
the
misfortunes
that
have
multiplied
upon
me
?
"
"
Again
I
say
,
Richard
,
allude
not
to
the
past
.
Alas
!
bitter
—
bitter
were
the
tears
that
I
wept
on
that
fatal
night
when
—
—
"
"
When
I
was
publicly
disgraced
at
the
theatre
—
in
the
midst
of
a
triumph
.
Yes
—
Isabella
,
you
were
there
—
there
,
when
my
shame
was
consummated
!
"
"
Accident
had
led
us
to
the
theatre
that
evening
,
"
answered
Isabella
.
"
My
father
had
heard
that
a
new
tragedy
,
of
which
grand
hopes
were
entertained
,
was
to
be
produced
;
and
he
insisted
that
I
should
accompany
him
and
my
mother
.
I
was
compelled
to
assent
to
his
desire
—
although
I
prefer
retirement
and
tranquillity
to
society
and
gaiety
.
You
may
conceive
our
astonishment
—
you
may
imagine
my
surprise
and
my
joy
,
when
you
came
forward
to
acknowledge
the
congratulations
offered
for
a
triumph
so
brilliantly
achieved
.
And
then
—
but
let
us
leave
that
subject
—
my
blood
turns
cold
when
I
think
of
it
!
"
"
Oh
!
go
on
—
speak
of
it
,
speak
of
it
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
enthusiastically
;
"
for
although
the
reminiscence
of
that
fearful
scene
be
like
pouring
molten
lead
upon
an
open
wound
,
still
it
is
sweet
—
it
is
sweet
,
Isabella
,
to
receive
sympathy
from
such
lips
as
yours
.
"
"
Alas
!
I
have
little
more
to
say
—
except
that
the
sudden
intervention
of
that
terrible
man
seemed
to
strike
me
as
with
the
arrow
of
death
;
and
I
became
insensible
.
Then
,
Richard
,
—
then
,
"
continued
Isabella
,
in
a
low
and
tremulous
tone
,
"
my
mother
suspected
my
secret
—
or
rather
received
a
confirmation
of
the
suspicion
which
she
had
long
entertained
!
"
"
And
she
shuddered
at
the
mere
idea
?
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
interrogatively
.
"
No
,
Richard
:
my
mother
is
kind
and
good
—
and
,
you
know
,
was
always
well
disposed
towards
you
:
I
have
told
you
that
much
before
!
She
said
little
—
and
of
that
no
matter
!
But
my
father
—
my
father
—
—
"
"
He
discovered
our
secret
also
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
Oh
!
did
he
not
curse
me
?
"
"
He
was
cool
and
calm
,
when
—
on
the
following
morning
—
he
spoke
to
me
upon
the
subject
.
I
answered
him
frankly
:
I
admitted
my
attachment
for
you
.
"
"
What
did
he
say
,
Isabella
!
Tell
me
every
thing
—
suppress
not
a
word
!
"
"
Oh
,
heavens
!
he
made
me
very
miserable
,
"
returned
Isabella
,
tears
trickling
down
her
countenance
.
"
But
wherefore
distress
both
yourself
and
me
with
a
recapitulation
of
what
ensued
?
Suffice
it
to
say
,
that
I
collected
all
the
arguments
in
my
memory
—
and
they
were
not
a
few
;
—
and
I
presented
to
him
that
paper
—
the
confession
of
Talbot
,
which
proved
your
innocence
!
"
"
Dearest
girl
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
rapturously
.
"
He
did
not
refuse
to
read
it
,
"
added
Isabella
;
"
and
at
length
,
when
I
saw
that
I
had
made
a
profound
impression
on
him
,
I
turned
the
conversation
upon
the
momentary
reverse
of
fortune
which
had
plunged
him
into
a
debtors
'
prison
—
—
"
"
Isabella
!
"
cried
Markham
,
in
surprise
.
"
And
then
I
boldly
declared
my
conviction
that
the
unknown
friend
who
had
released
him
—
the
anonymous
individual
who
had
thrown
open
to
him
the
gate
leading
to
liberty
—
the
nameless
person
,
that
had
done
so
generous
a
deed
,
and
accomplished
it
in
a
manner
as
delicate
as
it
was
noble
,
—
was
none
other
than
Richard
Markham
!
"
The
tone
of
the
Italian
maiden
had
become
more
and
more
impassioned
as
she
proceeded
;
and
when
she
uttered
the
last
words
of
the
foregoing
sentence
,
she
turned
upon
him
on
whose
arm
she
leant
,
a
countenance
glowing
with
animation
,
and
radiant
with
gratitude
and
love
.
"
Oh
,
Isabella
!
you
told
your
father
that
!
"
cried
Markham
.
"
And
yet
—
you
knew
not
—
—
"
"
My
suspicion
amounted
almost
to
a
certainty
,
"
interrupted
Isabella
:
"
and
now
I
doubt
no
longer
.
Oh
!
Richard
—
if
ever
for
one
moment
I
had
wavered
in
my
love
for
you
,
—
if
ever
an
instant
of
coldness
,
arising
from
worldly
reflections
,
had
intervened
to
make
me
repent
my
solemn
vows
to
you
,
—
that
one
deed
of
yours
—
that
noble
sacrifice
of
your
property
,
made
to
release
my
revered
parent
from
a
gaol
,
—
that
—
that
alone
would
have
rendered
my
heart
unalterably
thine
!
"
"
Beloved
girl
—
this
moment
is
the
happiest
of
my
life
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
;
and
tears
of
joy
filled
his
eyes
,
as
he
pressed
the
maiden
once
more
to
his
heart
.
"
Yes
,
Richard
,
"
continued
Isabella
,
after
a
long
pause
;
and
now
her
splendid
countenance
was
lighted
up
with
an
expression
of
dignity
and
generous
pride
,
and
the
timid
,
bashful
maiden
seemed
changed
into
a
lady
whose
brow
was
encircled
with
a
diadem
;
"
yes
,
Richard
,
if
ever
I
felt
that
no
deed
nor
act
of
mine
shall
separate
us
eternally
—
if
ever
I
rejoiced
in
the
prospect
of
possessing
wealth
,
and
receiving
lustre
from
my
father
's
princely
rank
—
—
"
"
Isabella
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
dropping
the
arm
on
which
the
Italian
lady
was
leaning
,
and
stepping
back
in
the
most
profound
astonishment
:
"
Isabella
,
what
mean
you
?
"
"
I
mean
,
"
continued
the
signora
,
casting
upon
him
a
glance
of
deep
tenderness
and
noble
pride
;
"
I
mean
that
henceforth
,
Richard
,
I
can
have
no
secret
from
you
,
—
that
I
must
now
disclose
what
has
often
before
trembled
upon
my
tongue
;
a
secret
which
my
father
would
not
,
however
,
as
yet
,
have
revealed
to
the
English
public
generally
,
—
the
secret
of
his
rank
;
for
he
whom
the
world
knows
as
the
Count
Alteroni
,
is
Alberto
,
Prince
of
Castelcicala
!
"
Strange
was
the
effect
that
this
revelation
produced
upon
the
young
man
.
He
felt
,
as
if
,
when
in
a
burning
heat
,
a
mighty
volume
of
icy
water
had
suddenly
been
dashed
over
him
:
his
head
appeared
to
swim
round
—
his
sight
grew
dim
—
he
staggered
,
and
would
have
fallen
had
not
Isabella
rushed
towards
him
,
exclaiming
,
"
Richard
—
dear
Richard
—
do
you
not
believe
how
much
I
love
you
?
"
Those
words
produced
an
instantaneous
change
within
him
:
those
sweet
syllables
,
uttered
in
the
silvery
tones
of
lovely
woman
's
tenderness
—
recalled
him
to
himself
.
"
Ah
!
Isabella
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
mournfully
,
"
how
insuperable
is
the
barrier
which
divides
us
now
!
"
"
And
—
if
that
barrier
to
which
you
allude
,
ever
existed
,
was
it
less
formidable
when
you
were
ignorant
of
the
secret
than
it
is
at
present
?
"
asked
Isabella
,
tenderly
.
"
It
seems
so
to
me
,
"
replied
Richard
.
"
Are
you
not
placed
on
an
eminence
to
which
I
never
can
hope
to
reach
?
have
I
not
dared
to
lift
my
ambitious
eyes
towards
a
Princess
—
the
daughter
of
one
who
will
some
day
wear
a
sovereign
crown
?
Oh
!
now
the
delusion
is
gone
—
I
am
awakened
from
a
long
dream
!
But
,
say
—
did
your
highness
make
this
revelation
to-day
,
in
order
to
extinguish
my
adventurous
aspirations
at
once
and
for
ever
?
"
"
Richard
,
you
wrong
me
—
cruelly
wrong
me
!
"
exclaimed
Isabella
,
bursting
into
tears
.
"
Forgive
me
—
forgive
me
,
sweetest
,
dearest
girl
!
"
cried
Markham
.
"
I
was
mad
—
I
raved
—
I
knew
not
what
I
said
—
—
"
"
Richard
,
when
we
met
here
—
once
before
—
you
doubted
my
affection
,
and
then
you
asked
me
to
forgive
you
!
How
often
will
you
put
my
feelings
to
so
cruel
a
test
?
how
often
will
you
renew
those
unjust
suspicions
?
"
"
O
God
!
what
have
I
done
,
that
I
should
thus
call
tears
to
your
eyes
,
Isabella
?
Forgive
me
,
again
—
I
say
—
forgive
me
:
on
my
knees
I
implore
—
—
"
"
No
—
no
!
I
think
no
more
of
what
you
said
,
"
exclaimed
Isabella
.
"
Calm
yourself
for
my
sake
!
"
—
and
she
gazed
so
tenderly
up
into
his
countenance
,
that
he
was
reassured
,
and
all
his
doubts
and
fears
vanished
in
a
moment
.
"
Yes
,
Isabella
,
"
he
said
:
"
I
am
now
calm
;
and
you
—
you
are
an
angel
!
"
"
A
mere
terrestrial
one
,
Richard
,
I
am
afraid
,
"
returned
the
Princess
,
with
a
smile
.
"
And
now
let
me
speak
to
you
upon
the
little
matter
of
business
to
which
I
alluded
in
my
note
.
After
I
had
informed
my
father
that
you
were
the
generous
unknown
who
had
been
the
means
of
his
release
from
prison
,
he
exclaimed
,
'
Excellent-hearted
young
man
!
How
I
have
wronged
him
by
my
injurious
suspicions
concerning
that
night
when
the
burglary
was
attempted
at
our
home
!
'
You
see
that
I
tell
you
his
very
words
.
"
"
Yes
—
tell
me
every
thing
,
dear
Isabella
.
And
,
thus
,
your
father
no
longer
believes
—
—
"
"
How
can
he
believe
that
any
one
would
attempt
to
rob
him
one
day
,
and
pay
nearly
two
thousand
pounds
for
him
another
?
"
exclaimed
Isabella
.
"
Oh
,
no
—
he
is
disabused
upon
that
point
.
Would
that
he
were
unprejudiced
on
others
!
"
"
I
understand
you
,
"
said
Markham
,
mournfully
.
"
The
Prince
cannot
consent
to
renew
his
acquaintance
with
one
who
has
been
subjected
to
an
infamous
punishment
,
and
who
aspires
to
the
hand
of
his
daughter
.
"
"
Alas
!
you
have
divined
but
too
truly
,
"
returned
Isabella
,
wiping
away
a
tear
.
"
Nevertheless
,
may
we
not
hope
?
Already
is
one
great
point
gained
:
my
father
believes
that
you
may
have
been
unfortunate
,
and
not
guilty
.
Oh
!
that
is
a
great
obstacle
removed
!
And
in
my
mother
,
Richard
,
you
have
a
warm
friend
—
although
her
prejudices
of
rank
and
family
—
—
"
"
I
can
well
comprehend
the
sentiments
of
her
Highness
,
"
answered
Markham
:
"
and
it
is
all
that
which
now
makes
me
fear
lest
—
—
"
"
Fear
not
—
but
hope
every
thing
,
"
said
Isabella
,
who
,
however
,
poor
girl
!
spoke
in
a
more
flattering
manner
than
her
secret
thoughts
would
have
warranted
,
had
she
consulted
them
;
but
she
saw
her
lover
oppressed
and
weighed
down
by
the
revelation
of
that
secret
which
she
had
considered
it
unkind
to
retain
any
longer
;
and
she
did
all
she
could
to
console
him
.
"
Yes
—
I
will
hope
,
for
both
our
sakes
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
And
now
let
me
conclude
my
little
narrative
,
"
continued
Isabella
.
"
My
father
resolved
to
repay
you
the
money
you
had
so
generously
advanced
,
the
moment
he
was
enabled
;
and
as
the
Grand
Duke
of
Castelcicala
has
settled
upon
him
an
income
of
ten
thousand
a-year
,
besides
an
immediate
grant
of
forty
thousand
pounds
,
—
boons
which
my
father
had
only
accepted
because
no
political
condition
was
attached
to
them
,
and
because
they
are
alleged
to
be
an
indemnification
for
his
estates
which
have
been
confiscated
,
—
he
only
awaited
the
arrival
of
his
first
remittances
to
acquit
himself
of
that
debt
of
honour
.
The
day
before
yesterday
he
gave
this
letter
,
"
added
Isabella
,
taking
a
small
sealed
packet
from
her
reticule
,
"
to
one
of
our
servants
to
convey
to
the
post
at
Richmond
.
I
demanded
it
back
again
privately
of
the
servant
,
with
the
view
of
placing
it
myself
in
your
hands
,
and
—
and
taking
the
opportunity
to
reveal
to
you
a
secret
which
I
did
not
think
it
right
to
keep
from
you
any
longer
.
"
"
I
receive
this
packet
,
then
,
Isabella
,
with
its
contents
,
"
said
Markham
,
pressing
her
hand
as
he
took
it
,
"
because
your
father
is
happily
in
a
position
to
repay
me
the
trifle
which
I
was
enabled
to
disburse
for
his
benefit
.
But
ten
thousand
times
more
valuable
is
this
sum
to
me
,
since
its
payment
prompted
you
to
grant
me
this
interview
.
"
"
I
had
so
much
to
tell
you
,
Richard
,
"
answered
the
lady
,
with
a
deep
blush
,
"
that
I
could
not
commit
it
all
to
paper
.
I
therefore
adopted
this
plan
—
which
perhaps
is
indiscreet
—
—
"
"
Use
not
that
epithet
again
,
dear
Isabella
,
"
interrupted
Markham
.
"
You
assure
me
that
you
love
me
:
can
you
then
regret
that
you
have
made
me
happy
by
allowing
me
to
see
you
—
to
talk
to
you
—
to
embrace
you
once
again
?
And
yet
,
in
the
midst
of
that
happiness
,
the
sad
thought
intrudes
upon
me
—
'
When
shall
I
see
thee
again
?
'
"
"
Accident
may
throw
us
together
soon
—
as
it
has
done
ere
now
,
"
murmured
Isabella
:
"
accident
—
or
rather
Providence
—
does
so
much
for
us
poor
mortals
.
"
"
But
,
with
your
mother
's
prejudices
in
favour
of
rank
and
birth
,
and
with
your
father
's
high
destinies
,
what
hope
can
exist
for
so
humble
an
individual
as
myself
?
How
can
I
dare
aspire
to
the
hand
of
a
Princess
of
a
powerful
independent
state
?
"
"
Did
not
Miss
Eliza
Sydney
espouse
the
Grand
Duke
of
Castelcicala
?
and
she
—
she
also
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
remember
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
seeing
that
Isabella
hesitated
,
—
"
I
remember
that
she
also
was
unfortunate
,
as
I
was
;
and
she
also
endured
a
weary
imprisonment
of
two
years
.
Yes
—
I
accept
the
omen
—
it
is
an
auspicious
one
!
"
And
Richard
's
handsome
countenance
was
once
more
animated
with
a
glow
of
hope
and
joy
.
Then
,
in
an
access
of
enthusiasm
,
he
exclaimed
:
"
Oh
!
if
ever
this
fond
aspiration
should
be
realised
,
—
if
ever
the
humble
and
obscure
Englishman
were
united
to
the
high-born
and
brilliant
Italian
Princess
,
how
sweet
—
how
sweet
would
it
be
for
him
to
owe
rank
and
fortune
to
the
woman
whom
he
loved
so
fondly
,
and
whom
he
would
ever
love
until
the
hand
of
Death
should
beckon
him
to
the
tomb
!
For
myself
,
I
pant
not
for
the
honours
and
glories
of
this
life
;
for
hadst
thou
,
Isabella
,
been
the
daughter
of
the
lowest
peasants
,
I
had
loved
thee
all
the
same
—
and
had
been
far
,
far
more
contented
,
because
the
obstacles
which
now
oppose
our
happiness
might
then
have
ceased
to
exist
!
"
"
Believe
me
,
Richard
,
"
answered
Isabella
,
in
a
tone
of
witching
tenderness
,
"
believe
me
,
that
the
happiest
day
of
my
life
will
be
that
when
I
can
prove
to
you
the
extent
of
that
affection
with
which
you
have
inspired
me
;
—
and
,
again
I
repeat
,
that
if
ever
I
rejoiced
in
the
prospect
of
that
fortune
which
,
whether
my
father
eventually
succeed
to
the
ducal
throne
or
not
,
he
will
be
enabled
to
leave
me
,
—
and
if
ever
I
felt
proud
of
that
high
station
which
my
family
enjoys
,
or
indulged
in
the
hope
that
my
parents
may
one
day
attain
to
sovereign
rank
,
—
that
joy
,
that
pride
,
that
hope
are
all
experienced
on
account
of
you
!
For
,
like
you
,
I
care
not
for
the
grandeur
and
ostentation
of
palaces
;
—
but
it
will
be
a
thrice
happy
day
for
me
,
when
I
can
say
to
thee
—
'
Richard
,
my
fortune
is
all
thine
,
and
thou
shalt
share
my
rank
!
'
Because
,
in
Castelcicala
,
unlike
the
usages
of
your
native
land
,
he
who
espouses
a
Princess
becomes
a
Prince
;
and
,
when
you
shall
be
thus
exalted
,
Richard
,
who
will
dare
to
remind
you
of
the
misfortunes
of
your
past
life
?
That
is
why
I
rejoice
in
my
present
rank
and
future
prospects
,
—
a
joy
that
is
experienced
solely
on
account
of
you
!
"
"
Noble-hearted
girl
!
what
kindness
—
what
attention
—
what
devoted
love
on
my
part
can
ever
repay
thee
for
these
generous
feelings
—
these
endearing
proofs
of
the
tenderest
attachment
!
"
"
Do
you
think
that
I
should
love
you
,
Richard
,
as
I
do
,
"
returned
Isabella
,
"
if
I
did
not
know
the
generosity
of
your
soul
—
if
I
did
not
appreciate
all
your
virtues
?
I
am
well
aware
that
,
unfortunately
,
you
are
not
rich
;
and
yet
you
sacrificed
—
nobly
sacrificed
your
property
to
release
my
parent
from
a
gaol
!
Oh
!
how
can
I
ever
forget
that
conduct
of
yours
?
You
speak
of
repaying
me
for
my
affection
:
how
much
do
I
not
owe
to
you
?
"
There
was
a
pause
in
the
conversation
,
during
which
the
lovers
walked
up
and
down
along
the
edge
of
the
leafless
grove
,
each
enjoying
reflections
of
a
pleasurable
nature
.
Isabella
leant
with
charming
confidence
upon
the
arm
of
that
handsome
and
generous-hearted
young
man
,
in
whose
love
she
gloried
as
if
he
were
the
Prince
and
she
were
the
obscure
individual
;
and
he
felt
his
heart
expand
with
ineffable
bliss
,
as
he
contemplated
the
brilliant
prospects
which
that
lovely
girl
—
the
proudly-born
Princess
spread
before
the
eyes
of
him
—
the
obscure
individual
.
More
than
an
hour
and
a
half
had
already
passed
,
and
Isabella
at
length
remembered
that
she
must
return
home
.
She
intimated
to
her
lover
the
necessity
of
separating
;
and
,
with
fond
embraces
and
renewed
vows
,
they
parted
.
Richard
watched
her
receding
form
until
she
entered
the
grove
of
evergreens
surrounding
her
father
's
mansion
:
he
then
retraced
his
steps
towards
Richmond
.
And
never
was
his
heart
so
light
as
now
!
CHAPTER
CXIV
.
THE
CONTENTS
OF
THE
PACKET
.
ALBERTO
of
Castelcicala
,
to
conceal
his
princely
rank
,
when
he
arrived
in
England
an
exile
from
his
native
shores
,
had
adopted
the
style
of
Count
Alteroni
—
this
title
being
the
name
of
an
estate
which
he
had
possessed
in
Italy
,
but
which
,
together
with
the
remainder
of
his
vast
property
,
had
been
confiscated
by
order
of
the
Grand
Duke
,
his
uncle
.
The
government
of
Castelcicala
was
an
absolute
despotism
;
and
it
was
because
the
Prince
,
with
a
view
to
ameliorate
the
condition
of
the
people
whom
he
might
one
day
be
called
upon
to
govern
,
had
placed
himself
at
the
head
,
and
openly
avowed
himself
as
the
patron
,
of
a
political
party
in
the
state
,
whose
object
was
to
obtain
a
constitution
,
he
had
been
proscribed
by
the
Grand
Duke
and
the
old
aristocracy
of
the
country
.
His
party
advised
him
to
have
recourse
to
arms
;
and
meetings
in
favour
of
the
enlightened
principles
which
he
advocated
were
held
at
the
time
throughout
the
country
.
But
the
Prince
was
resolved
never
to
plunge
his
native
land
into
the
horrors
of
a
civil
war
:
he
preferred
exile
and
obscurity
to
such
an
alternative
.
His
was
,
indeed
,
a
lofty
and
patriotic
soul
,
that
knew
how
to
sacrifice
his
dearest
interests
to
the
popular
tranquillity
.
Accordingly
,
on
his
arrival
in
London
he
had
adopted
a
rank
comparatively
humble
in
respect
to
the
exalted
station
which
he
in
reality
occupied
;
and
to
this
mode
of
conduct
he
was
instigated
by
the
same
disinterested
motives
that
had
led
him
to
fly
from
his
country
rather
than
raise
the
standard
of
civil
strife
.
He
knew
that
if
he
settled
in
London
under
his
proper
title
,
he
could
not
avoid
receiving
those
patriotic
exiles
who
had
fled
from
Castelcicala
to
avoid
the
consequences
of
their
liberal
opinions
.
He
was
averse
to
the
idea
of
allowing
his
dwelling
to
be
made
the
point
of
réunion
for
those
who
advocated
the
enforcement
of
the
popular
cause
by
means
of
arms
;
he
would
not
for
a
moment
consent
to
permit
a
nucleus
of
open
rebellion
against
the
reigning
sovereign
of
Castelcicala
,
to
be
formed
under
his
auspices
.
He
had
,
therefore
,
intimated
to
his
friends
and
adherents
that
he
intended
to
retire
into
private
life
,
until
circumstances
might
place
him
in
a
position
to
confer
upon
his
native
land
the
charter
of
liberties
which
he
believed
to
be
its
natural
right
.
The
few
English
persons
who
were
acquainted
with
his
secret
,
religiously
kept
it
.
The
Tremordyns
,
Armstrong
,
and
the
Earl
of
Warrington
,
whom
he
numbered
amongst
his
best
friends
,
respected
the
incognito
which
his
Highness
thought
fit
to
preserve
.
Thus
,
Armstrong
had
not
even
communicated
the
fact
to
Richard
Markham
when
he
introduced
him
to
the
Prince
's
dwelling
;
and
the
reader
may
now
understand
the
reasons
which
led
the
haughtiest
of
England
's
peers
,
the
Earl
of
Warrington
,
on
the
occasion
of
his
visit
to
the
mansion
near
Richmond
to
solicit
letters
of
introduction
for
Eliza
Sydney
,
to
bend
his
head
with
such
profound
respect
in
the
presence
of
the
heir
presumptive
to
a
throne
.
Nor
need
it
now
be
made
a
matter
of
marvel
if
those
letters
of
introduction
proved
such
immediate
passports
for
Eliza
Sydney
into
the
first
society
of
Castelcicala
;
—
but
little
did
he
who
gave
them
or
he
who
solicited
them
,
—
little
did
they
think
that
their
ulterior
effect
would
be
to
open
the
way
for
that
lady
to
such
an
eminence
as
the
one
which
she
had
attained
.
We
have
before
explained
,
—
a
point
,
indeed
,
which
the
intelligent
reader
could
not
fail
to
comprehend
,
—
that
the
chance
of
Alberto
to
the
Castelcicalan
throne
now
depended
upon
the
contingency
of
the
marriage
of
Angelo
III
.
producing
offspring
,
or
not
.
Scarcely
,
however
,
had
that
marriage
been
consummated
,
when
the
Minister
of
Foreign
.
Affairs
wrote
to
the
Castelcicalan
envoy
at
the
court
of
Queen
Victoria
,
to
communicate
to
Prince
Alberto
the
intention
of
the
government
,
sanctioned
by
the
Grand
Duke
,
to
allow
him
a
handsome
income
,
and
supply
him
with
an
immediate
grant
,
by
way
of
indemnification
for
the
loss
of
his
estates
.
No
political
condition
of
any
kind
being
attached
to
this
concession
,
the
Prince
did
not
hesitate
to
accept
it
;
and
it
was
even
mentioned
in
a
Montoni
newspaper
,
that
the
influence
of
the
Grand
Duchess
,
aided
by
the
friendly
feeling
of
some
of
the
new
Ministers
towards
the
Prince
,
had
procured
this
act
of
justice
at
the
hands
of
Angelo
III
.
These
few
observations
may
not
be
deemed
superfluous
,
inasmuch
as
they
tend
to
explain
the
real
position
of
the
Prince
of
Castelcicala
—
the
father
of
our
charming
heroine
.
We
said
it
was
with
a
light
heart
that
Richard
Markham
retraced
his
steps
to
Richmond
,
after
having
parted
with
the
Princess
Isabella
.
He
was
,
moreover
,
desirous
to
examine
the
contents
of
the
packet
which
she
had
placed
in
his
hands
,
—
not
because
he
cared
for
the
money
which
was
thus
returned
to
him
;
but
because
he
was
anxious
to
ascertain
whether
any
note
from
her
father
accompanied
it
.
He
,
however
,
restrained
his
curiosity
until
he
reached
Richmond
,
where
he
entered
an
hotel
,
ordered
a
private
room
,
bespoke
some
refreshment
,
and
then
proceeded
to
break
the
seal
of
the
envelope
.
Yes
—
there
was
a
letter
,
containing
a
cheque
.
The
cheque
fell
unheeded
on
the
carpet
:
the
letter
was
immediately
perused
with
avidity
;
—
"
I
cannot
sufficiently
express
my
admiration
of
your
noble
and
generous
conduct
in
having
liquidated
the
debts
for
which
I
was
detained
in
the
Queen
's
Bench
prison
.
I
now
repay
,
with
unfeigned
and
heart-felt
gratitude
,
that
sum
which
you
advanced
,
for
my
necessities
,
in
a
manner
so
honourable
to
your
own
nature
and
so
eminently
useful
to
me
at
that
period
.
I
need
not
say
how
deeply
I
regret
the
injurious
suspicions
which
I
entertained
concerning
you
on
a
certain
occasion
:
but
circumstances
were
too
powerfully
combined
against
you
to
admit
of
any
other
impression
.
You
will
forgive
me
—
for
I
ask
your
pardon
:
I
sincerely
apologise
for
all
I
may
have
said
or
done
on
that
occasion
.
"
And
now
,
my
dear
Mr.
Markham
,
I
am
compelled
to
touch
upon
a
subject
which
,
though
painful
,
demands
a
few
observations
.
That
you
have
been
unfortunate
,
I
know
:
that
you
were
never
guilty
,
I
am
now
well
convinced
.
I
have
read
a
document
which
proves
this
.
But
you
have
inspired
my
daughter
with
an
affection
,
which
I
understand
is
reciprocal
,
and
which
never
can
end
otherwise
than
in
disappointment
to
you
both
.
Crush
,
then
,
this
sentiment
in
your
breast
;
and
for
the
peace
of
mind
of
her
who
is
my
only
child
,
and
who
never
—
never
can
become
your
wife
,
I
implore
you
not
to
see
her
more
!
Avoid
her
—
as
I
shall
instruct
her
to
avoid
you
,
—
my
only
motive
being
based
upon
certain
circumstances
,
unknown
to
you
,
which
render
your
union
an
impossibility
.
I
address
you
as
a
friend
—
as
a
father
I
write
to
you
;
your
generous
heart
will
teach
you
how
to
respect
my
wishes
.
"
One
more
subject
must
not
be
forgotten
.
I
am
well
aware
that
you
are
not
as
wealthy
as
you
once
were
.
Thank
God
,
my
pecuniary
means
have
ceased
to
be
a
subject
of
anxiety
to
me
.
You
aided
me
when
I
was
in
need
and
in
distress
:
allow
me
to
offer
you
a
trifling
assistance
towards
enabling
you
to
build
up
your
fortunes
.
This
is
an
object
,
which
,
with
your
great
talents
,
you
cannot
fail
to
accomplish
.
Remember
,
I
do
not
offer
this
small
aid
as
an
acquittal
of
my
deep
obligation
towards
you
:
no
—
my
gratitude
is
intense
—
and
the
circumstances
under
which
you
befriended
me
leave
me
ever
your
debtor
.
But
as
a
friend
,
I
offer
you
the
use
of
my
purse
;
—
as
a
friend
I
place
in
your
hands
a
sum
of
money
which
you
can
use
during
your
pleasure
,
and
return
to
me
at
your
convenience
.
Should
that
sum
be
insufficient
to
forward
your
views
,
hesitate
not
to
apply
to
me
for
more
.
"
And
now
,
farewell
—
at
least
for
the
present
;
and
believe
that
no
one
will
be
more
delighted
to
hear
of
your
success
in
life
,
than
"
Your
very
sincere
friend
,
"
ALTERONI
.
"
Markham
picked
up
the
cheque
:
it
was
for
five
thousand
pounds
.
We
must
endeavour
to
explain
the
nature
of
the
feelings
which
the
contents
of
the
Prince
's
letter
created
within
him
.
He
saw
with
delight
that
the
illustrious
exile
once
more
addressed
him
as
a
friend
,
and
that
all
suspicions
of
his
guilt
had
been
extirpated
from
the
mind
of
that
nobleman
.
But
,
on
the
other
hand
,
the
barrier
between
himself
and
Isabella
seemed
to
be
rendered
insuperable
by
the
positive
terms
in
which
the
Prince
bade
him
eradicate
his
passion
from
his
bosom
.
That
barrier
was
no
doubt
twofold
:
the
father
of
Isabella
never
could
consent
to
the
union
of
his
daughter
with
one
whom
the
world
had
stamped
with
ignominy
,
although
innocent
:
—
and
,
chiefly
,
the
Italian
Prince
—
the
probable
heir
to
a
throne
—
might
aspire
to
a
far
,
far
higher
connexion
for
his
child
.
Then
Richard
's
thoughts
were
directed
to
the
handsome
sum
of
money
which
the
Prince
had
placed
at
his
disposal
;
and
he
could
not
do
otherwise
than
admire
the
delicate
manner
in
which
it
was
proffered
,
—
a
manner
that
scarcely
admitted
of
a
refusal
.
And
yet
Richard
was
resolved
to
return
the
surplus
above
the
amount
which
he
had
disbursed
to
procure
the
Prince
's
liberation
from
prison
.
Thus
was
it
with
mingled
feelings
of
joy
and
melancholy
that
Markham
reviewed
the
contents
of
that
letter
.
Still
he
clung
to
Hope
,
—
for
Isabella
had
bade
him
hope
;
and
he
thought
that
the
same
good
Providence
which
had
thus
far
reconciled
him
to
the
father
of
his
beloved
,
might
in
time
accomplish
more
striking
miracles
in
his
favour
.
But
,
alas
!
it
must
indeed
be
a
miracle
that
could
link
his
fate
with
the
high
destinies
of
the
ducal
house
of
Castelcicala
!
Isabella
,
instead
of
being
the
daughter
of
an
obscure
count
,
was
the
only
child
of
one
who
,
if
he
were
not
to
become
himself
the
sovereign
of
the
most
powerful
petty
state
in
Europe
,
would
at
all
events
occupy
a
station
next
only
to
the
sovereign
whenever
circumstances
should
allow
him
to
return
to
his
native
land
.
But
,
on
the
other
hand
,
Isabella
was
faithful
and
true
;
and
what
might
not
be
expected
from
woman
's
love
?
In
a
word
,
Markham
was
rather
inclined
to
hope
than
to
despair
;
and
the
incidents
of
that
morning
imparted
to
his
soul
a
solace
which
was
a
recompense
for
much
,
very
much
of
past
suffering
.
Having
partaken
of
some
refreshment
,
Richard
returned
to
London
,
and
repaired
to
the
bank
where
the
cheque
was
made
payable
.
He
only
drew
for
the
amount
actually
due
to
him
,
and
desired
that
the
surplus
might
be
retained
in
behalf
of
Count
Alteroni
(
under
which
name
the
Prince
was
known
at
the
bankers
'
establishment
)
.
On
his
return
home
,
Richard
addressed
the
following
letter
to
the
Italian
nobleman
:
—
"
A
thousand
thanks
,
my
dear
lord
,
for
your
most
kind
and
courteous
letter
.
To
find
that
you
have
at
length
become
convinced
that
I
was
unfortunate
,
and
never
guilty
,
is
a
source
of
happiness
the
extent
of
which
I
cannot
describe
.
"
Your
wishes
in
respect
to
the
attachment
which
I
certainly
entertain
for
the
Signora
Isabella
,
shall
be
so
far
complied
with
—
that
I
will
not
venture
to
present
myself
at
your
abode
.
As
for
extinguishing
that
affection
which
burns
in
my
heart
—
mortal
power
cannot
accomplish
the
task
.
"
It
was
with
unfeigned
delight
that
I
understood
from
your
lordship
's
letter
that
your
position
not
only
enabled
you
to
return
the
trifle
which
I
once
ventured
to
use
in
your
behalf
,
but
also
most
generously
to
offer
me
the
means
of
building
up
my
fallen
fortunes
.
My
lord
,
I
am
unable
to
profit
by
your
kindness
;
the
stigma
under
which
I
lie
—
and
with
tears
I
write
these
words
—
is
a
bar
to
any
legitimate
speculation
with
a
hope
of
success
.
Moreover
,
I
have
sufficient
for
my
wants
;
and
am
therefore
,
in
one
sense
,
rich
.
Excuse
me
if
I
have
not
availed
myself
of
your
noble
offer
—
an
offer
that
scarcely
admits
of
refusal
in
consequence
of
the
delicacy
and
kindness
with
which
it
was
made
.
Nevertheless
,
I
am
bound
to
decline
it
—
with
the
most
sincere
gratitude
;
at
the
same
time
observing
,
that
should
need
ever
press
me
,
I
shall
not
hesitate
to
have
recourse
to
the
friendship
with
which
you
honour
me
.
"
In
the
earnest
hope
that
happiness
and
health
may
attend
upon
yourself
and
amiable
family
,
"
I
remain
,
my
dear
lord
,
"
Your
most
grateful
and
faithful
servant
,
"
RICHARD
MARKHAM
.
"
It
will
be
seen
that
the
tone
of
this
letter
was
somewhat
constrained
;
but
,
although
Richard
endeavoured
to
write
with
apparent
ease
,
as
if
ignorant
of
his
correspondent
's
real
rank
,
he
could
not
forget
that
he
was
addressing
himself
to
the
Prince
of
Castelcicala
.
CHAPTER
CXV
.
THE
TREASURE
.
—
A
NEW
IDEA
.
ALAS
!
that
we
should
be
compelled
to
turn
from
such
bright
scenes
as
woman
's
love
and
lovers
'
hope
,
to
deeds
of
infamy
and
crime
.
But
so
goes
the
world
;
and
no
faithful
historian
can
venture
to
deviate
from
the
rule
.
Sad
,
and
dismal
,
and
dark
,
are
many
of
the
phases
which
this
narrative
has
yet
to
show
;
but
we
can
also
promise
our
reader
that
there
will
not
be
wanting
bright
and
cheering
scenes
to
afford
relief
to
his
eye
.
Chequered
,
indeed
,
are
the
ways
of
life
:
varied
and
diversified
are
all
its
paths
.
And
,
oh
!
let
him
who
is
wearied
with
the
load
of
existence
,
while
wending
through
the
rough
and
craggy
places
of
the
world
,
and
when
rudely
jostled
by
the
world
's
unfeeling
crowd
,
—
let
him
remember
that
there
is
another
sphere
beyond
,
where
the
ways
are
smooth
and
pleasant
,
and
where
the
voice
of
lamentation
is
never
heard
,
—
a
sphere
where
angels
alone
shall
be
the
guides
of
the
elect
,
and
where
the
sound
of
grateful
harmony
shall
never
cease
,
—
a
sphere
,
whose
name
is
Heaven
!
Again
we
say
,
alas
!
that
we
should
be
compelled
to
divert
the
attention
of
our
reader
from
scenes
of
mundane
bliss
and
the
contemplation
of
the
purest
love
,
to
deeds
of
iniquity
and
hatred
.
But
to
our
task
.
It
was
about
five
o'clock
in
the
evening
of
the
day
that
witnessed
the
incidents
of
the
two
preceding
chapters
,
and
that
had
succeeded
the
night
on
which
the
unhappy
Viola
had
signed
a
deed
surrendering
up
half
her
property
to
her
unprincipled
husband
,
—
that
the
Resurrection
Man
returned
home
to
his
dwelling
in
Globe
Town
.
But
before
he
ascended
to
the
apartments
inhabited
by
himself
and
his
mistress
with
a
fearful
name
,
he
entered
the
lower
part
of
the
building
,
and
,
having
lighted
a
candle
,
descended
to
the
subterranean
vaults
.
In
the
first
place
he
went
into
a
cell
opposite
to
that
which
was
still
tenanted
by
Viola
,
who
,
it
will
be
remembered
,
had
received
a
solemn
promise
to
be
restored
to
her
own
abode
that
evening
at
nine
o'clock
.
The
Resurrection
Man
entered
the
cell
to
which
we
have
alluded
,
and
which
was
empty
.
He
raised
a
stone
from
the
floor
,
and
drew
from
a
hole
of
about
a
foot
deep
,
a
large
leathern
bag
,
the
contents
of
which
sent
forth
the
welcome
metallic
sound
of
gold
as
he
took
it
in
his
hand
.
The
miscreant
seated
himself
upon
the
cold
floor
of
the
cell
,
and
poured
forth
into
his
hat
the
glittering
contents
of
the
bag
.
His
eyes
sparkled
with
delight
as
he
surveyed
the
treasure
.
He
took
a
few
of
the
coins
up
in
his
hand
,
and
let
them
drop
one
by
one
back
again
into
his
hat
—
his
glances
greedily
fixed
upon
the
gold
as
he
thus
toyed
with
it
.
"
Two
hundred
good
sterling
sovereigns
here
already
,
"
he
mused
within
himself
,
—
"
two
hundred
pounds
earned
with
toil
,
trouble
,
daring
,
and
danger
.
Two
hundred
pounds
are
a
decent
provision
for
any
man
in
my
line
of
life
!
And
now
,
"
he
continued
,
taking
a
smaller
canvass
bag
from
his
pocket
,
"
there
is
more
to
add
to
swell
the
treasury
.
Here
is
a
hundred
pounds
—
my
half
of
the
sum
paid
by
Tomlinson
this
afternoon
for
keeping
the
secret
about
his
old
clerk
.
The
Buffer
has
got
his
share
;
but
I
warrant
he
will
hoard
none
of
it
as
I
do
!
Thank
my
stars
,
within
the
last
year
I
have
learnt
to
be
economical
and
saving
.
I
mean
to
have
something
for
my
old
age
;
unless
—
—
"
And
his
countenance
suddenly
assumed
an
expression
perfectly
hideous
,
as
he
reflected
upon
the
probability
of
his
career
being
cut
short
by
the
hand
of
the
law
.
But
,
in
another
moment
,
he
grew
composed
—
that
is
to
say
,
desperately
hardened
;
and
he
then
proceeded
with
his
occupation
and
his
musings
.
"
Well
,
here
is
my
share
of
the
two
hundred
pounds
that
the
chicken-hearted
,
contemptible
,
cowardly
Tomlinson
paid
for
a
secret
which
a
little
calm
reflection
might
have
told
him
that
I
dared
not
reveal
.
That
's
a
hundred
pounds
to
add
to
my
sinking
fund
;
"
—
and
here
the
miscreant
smiled
.
"
Now
,
"
he
continued
,
"
comes
the
grand
swag
—
three
hundred
pounds
from
Chichester
,
—
and
not
too
much
for
the
trouble
I
have
had
in
his
affair
!
Two
hundred
before
—
Tomlinson
's
hundred
—
and
Chichester
's
three
hundred
,
—
that
makes
six
hundred
pounds
of
good
sterling
gold
,
the
property
of
Mr.
Anthony
Tidkins
!
"
And
here
the
Resurrection
Man
laughed
outright
:
—
it
was
a
horrible
chuckle
—
the
triumph
of
a
miscreant
of
a
most
atrocious
nature
.
But
he
was
happy
—
happy
after
his
own
fashion
;
—
happy
in
counting
and
contemplating
the
produce
of
his
turpitude
.
While
he
was
consigning
his
wealth
to
the
larger
bag
,
and
gloating
over
the
gold
as
he
passed
it
through
his
hand
,
he
was
suddenly
alarmed
by
a
slight
sound
in
the
passage
.
It
seemed
like
a
low
footstep
.
He
listened
,
but
it
was
not
repeated
.
For
nearly
a
minute
did
he
remain
motionless
,
and
almost
breathless
,
in
a
state
of
painful
attention
;
but
not
another
sound
met
his
ear
.
Then
,
recovering
from
the
state
of
uneasy
suspense
into
which
that
incident
had
thrown
him
,
he
rose
from
the
floor
,
and
hurried
into
the
passage
which
divided
the
two
rows
of
cells
.
All
was
quiet
.
Ashamed
of
himself
for
his
childish
alarm
,
and
muttering
a
curse
at
his
folly
for
having
given
way
to
that
fear
,
he
returned
into
the
cell
,
buried
his
treasure
and
covered
the
place
with
the
stone
.
He
then
carefully
locked
the
door
of
the
dungeon
.
He
crossed
the
passage
,
and
proceeded
gently
to
open
the
door
leading
into
the
cell
occupied
by
Viola
.
When
he
entered
this
vault
,
he
found
the
lamp
extinguished
;
but
by
the
glare
of
his
candle
,
he
perceived
the
unhappy
woman
stretched
in
a
profound
slumber
upon
the
bed
.
"
All
right
,
"
he
muttered
to
himself
,
—
"
and
just
as
I
expected
.
She
will
sleep
some
hours
yet
,
for
the
wine
was
well
drugged
;
and
thus
we
can
convey
her
back
again
to
her
house
in
a
state
of
insensibility
.
When
she
awakes
in
her
own
bed
,
her
servants
will
assure
her
that
all
she
has
passed
through
was
a
mere
dream
;
and
by
this
plan
she
will
be
so
bewildered
,
that
she
will
actually
fancy
she
has
been
delirious
,
and
that
her
brain
has
wandered
.
This
was
Chichester
's
suggestion
;
and
I
must
give
him
credit
for
it
.
True
—
she
will
sooner
or
later
discover
that
the
departure
of
half
her
property
is
no
dream
;
but
then
the
first
burst
of
passion
will
have
gone
by
,
and
she
will
consider
it
prudent
to
hold
her
tongue
.
Well
—
let
her
sleep
:
at
nine
o'clock
Chichester
and
Tomlinson
will
come
,
and
then
she
shall
be
removed
.
"
At
that
instant
an
idea
struck
the
Resurrection
Man
.
Hitherto
he
had
worked
as
Chichester
's
agent
,
and
by
Chichester
's
directions
,
in
this
affair
:
what
if
he
were
to
turn
the
business
to
some
good
account
for
himself
?
The
lady
had
only
parted
with
half
her
property
:
she
had
eight
thousand
pounds
left
.
Might
not
all
,
or
a
decent
portion
of
this
sum
thus
remaining
,
pass
into
the
hands
of
the
Resurrection
Man
?
His
mode
of
treatment
had
elicited
the
first
concession
:
some
additional
horrors
might
extort
a
further
grant
.
The
idea
was
excellent
:
fool
that
he
was
for
not
having
thought
of
it
before
!
Thus
reasoned
Anthony
Tidkins
.
The
more
he
thought
of
the
new
plot
which
had
just
entered
his
head
,
the
more
he
grew
enamoured
of
it
.
He
was
well
aware
that
neither
Chichester
nor
Tomlinson
would
dare
to
adopt
measures
to
resist
his
will
;
and
with
a
grin
of
savage
delight
,
he
exclaimed
aloud
,
"
By
God
,
it
shall
be
done
!
"
He
then
removed
the
bottle
of
wine
from
the
cell
,
so
that
when
Viola
awoke
she
might
not
repeat
her
dose
—
supposing
that
she
should
be
ignorant
of
the
cause
of
her
long
lethargic
slumber
;
for
the
Resurrection
Man
was
not
aware
of
the
sudden
effect
which
it
had
produced
upon
her
,
but
imagined
that
the
drugged
liquid
was
only
powerful
enough
to
operate
gradually
.
He
next
replenished
the
lamp
with
oil
from
a
bottle
which
stood
in
one
corner
of
the
cell
,
and
,
having
lighted
the
lamp
,
withdrew
,
carefully
bolting
and
locking
the
door
behind
him
.
He
ascended
from
the
subterranean
prison
,
replaced
the
stone
trap-door
,
and
issued
from
the
ground-floor
of
the
house
.
He
observed
that
the
door
leading
into
the
alley
was
locked
as
he
had
left
it
when
he
entered
;
and
this
circumstance
reassured
him
relative
to
the
little
incident
which
had
temporarily
disturbed
him
when
counting
his
money
in
the
cell
.
Many
circumstances
combined
to
put
the
Resurrection
Man
into
an
excellent
humour
.
He
had
that
day
added
four
hundred
pounds
to
his
hidden
treasure
;
he
saw
business
of
all
kinds
multiplying
upon
his
hands
,
and
promising
a
golden
harvest
;
and
he
had
hit
upon
a
scheme
which
,
he
had
no
doubt
,
would
produce
him
a
larger
sum
than
he
had
ever
yet
realised
even
in
his
dreams
.
It
was
therefore
with
a
smiling
countenance
that
he
entered
the
up-stairs
room
where
the
Rattlesnake
was
busily
employed
in
spreading
the
contents
of
her
cupboard
upon
the
table
.
"
Well
,
Meg
,
you
see
I
am
home
before
my
time
,
"
he
exclaimed
.
"
I
do
n't
want
any
dinner
:
I
took
some
at
a
chop-house
in
town
,
as
I
had
to
wait
on
business
.
But
leave
the
lush
:
I
am
in
a
humour
for
a
glass
of
grog
;
—
and
you
and
I
,
Meg
,
will
sit
down
and
have
a
cozy
chat
together
.
"
"
So
we
will
,
Tony
,
"
returned
the
woman
,
with
a
manner
even
more
wheedling
and
fawning
than
she
had
ever
before
used
towards
her
terrible
paramour
.
"
You
seem
in
excellent
spirits
,
Tony
.
"
"
Yes
,
Meg
—
excellent
:
I
have
done
a
good
day
's
work
—
and
now
I
will
enjoy
myself
till
nine
o'clock
,
when
I
have
got
to
meet
two
gentlemen
close
by
here
on
another
little
matter
.
"
"
Ah
!
you
seldom
tell
me
what
you
are
doing
,
Tony
,
"
said
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
No
—
no
:
I
do
n't
like
trusting
women
a
bit
farther
than
I
can
see
them
.
Such
things
as
getting
up
a
body
or
so
—
well
and
good
;
but
serious
things
,
Meg
—
serious
things
,
never
!
"
"
Well
,
just
as
you
like
,
"
returned
Margaret
Flathers
,
affecting
a
smile
as
if
she
were
quite
satisfied
;
but
as
she
turned
to
replace
the
meat
in
the
cupboard
,
her
countenance
involuntarily
assumed
an
expression
of
mysterious
triumph
.
"
Come
,
now
—
sit
down
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
:
"
give
me
a
pipe
,
and
brew
me
my
lush
.
There
—
that
's
a
good
girl
.
"
Tidkins
lighted
his
pipe
,
and
smoked
for
some
moments
in
silence
.
"
I
tell
you
what
,
Meg
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
after
a
pause
;
"
you
shall
sing
me
a
song
.
I
feel
in
such
an
uncommon
good
humour
this
evening
—
in
such
excellent
spirits
.
No
—
I
wo
n't
have
a
song
:
I
tell
you
what
you
shall
do
.
"
"
What
?
"
said
Margaret
,
as
she
mixed
two
glasses
of
gin
and
water
.
"
You
shall
tell
me
all
about
the
coal-mines
,
you
know
—
your
own
history
.
You
told
it
me
once
before
;
but
then
I
was
n't
in
a
humour
to
hear
you
.
I
missed
half
,
and
have
forgot
t
'
other
half
.
So
now
,
come
—
let
's
have
the
Life
and
Adventures
of
Miss
Margaret
Flathers
.
"
The
Resurrection
Man
laughed
at
this
joke
—
as
he
considered
and
meant
it
to
be
;
and
the
Rattlesnake
,
who
never
dared
to
thwart
him
in
any
thing
,
and
who
apparently
had
some
additional
motive
to
humour
him
on
this
occasion
,
hastened
to
comply
with
his
request
—
or
rather
command
.
She
accordingly
related
her
history
,
the
phraseology
of
which
we
have
taken
the
liberty
materially
to
correct
and
amend
,
in
the
following
manner
.
CHAPTER
CXVI
.
THE
RATTLESNAKE
'S
HISTORY
.
"
I
was
born
in
a
coal-mine
in
Staffordshire
.
My
father
was
a
married
man
,
with
five
or
six
children
by
his
wife
:
my
mother
was
a
single
woman
,
who
worked
for
him
in
the
pit
.
I
was
,
therefore
,
illegitimate
;
but
this
circumstance
was
neither
considered
disgraceful
to
my
mother
nor
to
myself
,
morality
being
on
so
low
a
scale
amongst
the
mining
population
generally
,
as
almost
to
amount
to
promiscuous
intercourse
.
My
mother
was
only
eighteen
when
I
was
born
.
She
worked
in
the
pit
up
to
the
very
hour
of
my
birth
;
and
when
she
found
the
labour-pains
coming
on
,
she
threw
off
the
belt
and
chain
with
which
she
had
been
dragging
a
heavy
corf
(
or
wicker
basket
)
,
full
of
coal
,
up
a
slanting
road
,
—
retired
to
a
damp
cave
in
a
narrow
passage
leading
to
the
foot
of
the
shaft
,
and
there
gave
birth
to
her
child
.
That
child
was
myself
.
She
wrapped
me
up
in
her
petticoat
,
which
was
all
the
clothing
she
had
on
at
the
time
,
and
crawled
with
me
,
along
the
passage
,
