—and
even
another
,
if
necessary
,
until
we
succeed
,
"
answered
Vernon
,
emphatically
.
"
Yes
:
I
am
now
so
bent
upon
the
deed
—
so
resolved
to
become
the
lord
and
owner
of
these
broad
lands
and
yon
proud
mansion
—
that
I
will
even
risk
my
neck
to
attain
that
end
.
"
"
You
speak
in
a
plucky
manner
that
I
admire
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
Besides
,
when
once
you
are
Lord
Ravensworth
,
who
will
dare
to
utter
a
suspicion
—
even
if
there
should
seem
any
ground
for
it
?
"
"
No
one
—
certainly
,
"
replied
Vernon
.
"
But
have
you
looked
about
the
ruins
?
Remember
the
last
time
we
met
here
—
there
was
an
eaves-dropper
then
—
—
"
"
Do
n't
alarm
yourself
,
"
interrupted
Tidkins
:
"
I
walked
carefully
round
the
place
;
and
I
'll
swear
no
one
is
near
.
Unless
,
indeed
,
"
he
added
,
with
a
jocular
chuckle
,
"
some
very
curious
person
has
got
into
that
great
cistern
up
there
;
and
I
must
confess
I
did
n't
climb
up
to
look
into
it
.
"
"
Cease
this
humour
,
"
said
Vernon
,
somewhat
sternly
.
"
If
you
have
been
round
the
ruins
,
that
is
sufficient
.
Our
business
is
too
important
to
allow
us
to
waste
time
in
idle
bantering
.
Do
the
jugglers
understand
that
they
are
to
come
up
this
evening
?
"
"
Fully
so
,
"
answered
Tidkins
,
coolly
inhaling
the
fragrant
vapour
of
his
cigar
.
"
They
are
all
at
the
Three
Kings
—
that
public-house
which
you
see
by
the
road-side
yonder
,
—
and
most
likely
making
merry
with
the
couple
of
guineas
that
I
gave
them
last
night
.
It
is
not
necessary
that
I
should
see
them
again
before
they
come
to
the
Hall
.
"
"
You
mentioned
to
them
that
there
was
a
sick
lady
at
the
mansion
who
would
be
amused
with
their
sports
?
"
said
Vernon
.
"
I
have
already
told
you
what
representations
I
made
,
"
replied
Tidkins
,
impatiently
.
"
Where
's
the
use
of
asking
the
question
over
again
?
"
"
For
the
same
reason
that
one
reads
a
letter
twice
,
"
rejoined
Vernon
,
—
"
to
see
that
nothing
has
been
omitted
which
ought
to
be
said
or
done
.
But
are
you
sure
that
the
fellows
will
understand
how
to
use
the
detonating
balls
?
"
"
Nothing
is
easier
,
"
answered
Tidkins
.
"
And
as
it
was
merely
to
try
one
that
we
agreed
to
meet
here
now
,
suppose
I
just
make
the
trial
directly
?
"
"
Yes
—
I
am
anxious
to
be
assured
of
the
effect
,
"
said
Vernon
.
"
We
are
far
enough
away
from
the
Hall
to
do
so
in
safety
.
"
"
Certainly
we
are
,
"
remarked
Tidkins
.
"
In
the
first
place
we
're
down
in
this
deep
valley
;
—
in
the
second
place
there
's
the
thick
grove
on
the
top
of
the
hill
;
—
and
in
the
third
place
,
even
if
there
was
n't
the
hill
at
all
between
us
and
the
Hall
,
the
back
windows
of
the
mansion
do
n't
look
this
way
.
So
the
smoke
ca
n't
be
seen
.
"
"
True
!
"
exclaimed
Vernon
.
"
And
now
for
the
test
.
"
The
Resurrection
Man
drew
from
his
pocket
a
ball
covered
with
coarse
blue
paper
,
and
nearly
as
large
as
a
cricket-ball
.
Then
,
rising
from
his
seat
,
he
dashed
it
with
some
degree
of
violence
upon
the
hard
ground
.
It
exploded
in
the
twinkling
of
an
eye
,
with
a
din
as
loud
as
that
of
a
blunderbuss
;
and
both
Vernon
and
the
Resurrection
Man
were
immediately
enveloped
in
a
dense
cloud
of
black
and
sulphurous-smelling
smoke
.
When
the
dark
volume
had
blown
away
,
Vernon
beheld
the
cadaverous
countenance
of
the
Resurrection
Man
looking
towards
him
with
a
grin
of
ferocious
satisfaction
.
"
Well
—
will
that
do
?
"
cried
Tidkins
,
triumphantly
.
"
Admirably
,
"
answered
Gilbert
,
averting
his
face
—
for
there
was
something
fiend-like
and
horrible
in
the
leer
of
his
companion
.
There
was
a
short
pause
;
and
then
those
two
villains
resumed
their
conversation
.
But
as
the
remainder
of
their
discourse
was
connected
with
the
last
act
of
their
tragic
drama
,
which
we
shall
be
compelled
to
relate
in
detail
,
it
is
unnecessary
to
record
in
this
place
any
more
of
what
passed
between
them
upon
the
present
occasion
.
After
having
been
nearly
an
hour
together
,
Gilbert
Vernon
and
the
Resurrection
Man
separated
,
in
order
to
return
by
different
routes
to
the
Hall
.
Five
minutes
after
they
had
left
the
building
,
the
head
of
a
man
looked
cautiously
over
the
brink
of
the
empty
cistern
to
which
Tidkins
had
jocularly
alluded
,
and
which
stood
on
the
top
of
the
least
dilapidated
portion
of
the
lodge
.
Seeing
that
the
coast
was
now
perfectly
clear
,
the
person
who
was
concealed
in
the
cistern
emerged
from
his
hiding-place
and
let
himself
drop
lightly
upon
the
ground
.
This
individual
was
the
gipsy
,
Morcar
.
Being
on
his
way
to
London
,
—
alone
,
and
upon
some
business
connected
with
his
tribe
,
—
he
had
stopped
to
rest
himself
in
those
ruins
:
but
he
had
not
been
there
many
minutes
,
when
he
heard
the
sound
of
footsteps
;
and
,
almost
immediately
afterwards
,
he
beheld
,
through
a
cranny
in
the
wall
behind
which
he
was
seated
,
the
well-known
form
and
features
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
His
first
impulse
was
to
dart
upon
the
miscreant
and
endeavour
to
make
him
his
prisoner
;
but
,
seeing
that
Tidkins
looked
suspiciously
about
,
Morcar
instantly
imagined
that
he
had
some
object
in
seeking
that
place
.
At
the
same
time
it
struck
him
,
from
his
knowledge
of
the
Resurrection
Man
's
character
,
that
this
object
could
be
no
good
one
;
and
he
resolved
to
watch
the
villain
's
proceedings
.
Thus
,
while
Tidkins
was
making
the
circuit
of
the
ruins
,
Morcar
clambered
noiselessly
and
rapidly
up
to
the
cistern
,
in
which
he
concealed
himself
.
The
consequence
was
,
that
the
gipsy
overheard
the
entire
discourse
which
shortly
afterwards
ensued
between
Tidkins
and
Vernon
;
and
a
scheme
of
such
diabolical
villany
was
thus
revealed
to
him
,
that
his
hair
almost
stood
on
end
as
the
details
of
the
fearful
plot
were
gradually
developed
by
means
of
that
conversation
.
When
the
Resurrection
Man
and
Gilbert
Vernon
had
taken
their
departure
,
and
Morcar
had
emerged
from
his
hiding-place
,
his
first
impulse
was
to
proceed
to
Ravensworth
Hall
and
communicate
every
thing
he
had
overheard
to
the
lady
of
that
mansion
.
But
,
ere
he
took
that
step
,
he
sate
down
,
with
the
usual
caution
which
characterises
his
race
,
to
ponder
upon
the
subject
.
We
have
before
stated
that
it
is
repugnant
to
the
principles
of
the
Zingarees
to
be
instrumental
in
delivering
a
criminal
over
to
any
justice
save
their
own
;
and
Morcar
knew
that
if
he
did
adopt
such
a
course
,
he
must
necessarily
appear
as
a
witness
against
the
two
villains
whose
dark
designs
he
had
so
strangely
discovered
.
This
appearance
in
a
court
of
justice
would
sorely
damage
him
with
his
tribe
,
over
whom
he
was
to
rule
at
his
father
's
death
.
It
is
,
however
,
probable
that
the
excellent
effects
of
Richard
Markham
's
example
upon
the
generous-hearted
Morcar
would
have
hushed
those
scruples
and
induced
him
to
do
what
his
good
sense
told
him
was
his
duty
towards
society
,
had
not
the
sudden
reminiscence
of
a
certain
portion
of
the
conversation
he
had
overheard
confirmed
him
in
the
opinion
that
he
should
be
acting
more
prudently
to
counteract
the
project
of
the
two
villains
at
the
moment
it
was
to
be
put
into
execution
,
rather
than
deliver
them
up
to
justice
ere
it
was
attempted
.
"
I
am
now
so
bent
upon
the
deed
,
"
had
one
of
the
miscreants
said
,
"
so
resolved
to
become
the
owner
of
these
broad
lands
and
yon
proud
mansion
—
that
I
will
even
risk
my
neck
to
attain
that
end
!
"
The
reasoning
which
these
words
now
engendered
in
Morcar
's
mind
,
was
coincidentally
similar
to
that
upon
which
Eliza
Sydney
's
conduct
had
been
based
.
"
This
man
,
"
thought
Morcar
,
"
who
dared
to
utter
such
sentiments
,
is
the
member
of
a
noble
family
—
the
next
heir
after
an
infant
child
,
to
the
title
and
lands
of
Ravensworth
.
Would
the
word
of
a
wandering
gipsy
be
for
a
moment
credited
against
his
indignant
denial
of
the
accusation
which
I
should
make
against
him
,
were
he
now
delivered
up
to
justice
?
And
,
were
he
to
escape
from
that
accusation
,
would
he
not
commence
anew
his
dark
plots
against
the
life
of
that
child
who
seems
to
stand
in
his
way
?
Far
better
will
it
be
for
me
to
counteract
his
scheme
,
and
then
proclaim
his
guilt
when
my
evidence
can
be
corroborated
by
the
fact
that
he
did
attempt
the
deed
of
which
he
will
stand
accused
!
Yes
—
it
must
be
so
.
Then
will
the
law
for
ever
remove
him
from
a
scene
where
his
detestable
machinations
would
sooner
or
later
prove
fatal
to
their
innocent
object
!
"
Having
devised
a
mode
of
proceeding
,
Morcar
quitted
the
ruins
,
and
bent
his
way
towards
the
Three
Kings
public-house
,
which
was
about
a
mile
distant
.
On
his
arrival
at
the
little
rustic
inn
,
the
gipsy
sauntered
into
the
tap-room
,
where
he
sate
down
,
and
ordered
some
refreshment
.
At
one
of
the
tables
five
men
were
busily
engaged
in
devouring
bread
and
cheese
and
washing
down
the
same
with
long
draughts
of
Barclay
and
Perkins
's
Treble
X
.
They
were
thin
,
but
well-made
and
athletic-looking
fellows
;
and
were
dressed
in
garments
of
which
fustian
and
corduroy
were
the
principal
materials
.
On
the
bench
near
them
were
several
bundles
tied
up
in
handkerchiefs
,
through
the
openings
and
holes
of
which
the
quick
eye
of
the
gipsy
caught
sight
of
certain
nankin
breeches
and
flesh-coloured
stockings
,
such
as
are
worn
by
itinerant
mountebanks
.
In
a
corner
of
the
room
stood
a
large
drum
,
and
near
it
a
wicker
basket
with
a
lid
.
Morcar
was
convinced
that
these
persons
were
the
same
to
whom
Vernon
and
Tidkins
had
alluded
.
His
object
was
now
to
get
into
conversation
with
them
;
and
this
was
easily
effected
by
one
of
those
casual
remarks
upon
the
weather
which
invariably
commence
a
discourse
between
strangers
in
this
country
.
"
Fine
day
,
"
said
the
gipsy
,
after
quenching
his
thirst
with
half
the
contents
of
a
pint
of
porter
.
"
Very
,
indeed
,
"
replied
one
of
the
men
.
"
Have
you
walked
far
this
morning
?
"
"
Pretty
well
,
"
returned
Morcar
.
"
I
'm
going
to
London
presently
,
"
he
added
with
apparent
carelessness
,
"
to
try
and
astonish
the
people
a
little
.
"
"
Ah
!
"
exclaimed
another
of
the
jugglers
:
"
and
how
so
?
For
it
must
be
a
clever
feller
to
do
that
with
the
Londoners
.
But
may
be
your
people
have
got
hold
of
some
new
way
of
telling
fortunes
—
for
the
old
one
is
veared
out
by
this
time
,
I
should
think
.
"
"
You
suppose
that
because
I
am
of
the
gipsy
race
I
must
be
connected
with
women
who
tell
fortunes
,
"
said
Morcar
,
laughing
good-naturedly
.
"
Well
,
so
I
have
been
;
but
now
I
'm
going
to
begin
in
a
new
line
.
In
fact
I
do
n't
mind
telling
you
what
it
is
—
it
's
no
secret
;
and
I
'm
half
inclined
to
believe
that
it
's
more
or
less
in
your
way
also
,
"
he
added
,
glancing
significantly
towards
the
drum
and
the
bundles
.
"
If
you
could
only
do
some
new
trick
in
our
line
,
"
cried
one
of
the
men
,
eagerly
,
"
you
'd
make
your
fortune
:
but
it
must
be
a
good
one
,
mind
.
"
"
I
can
do
a
trick
that
,
I
flatter
myself
,
no
other
man
in
England
can
perform
,
"
said
Morcar
,
still
speaking
in
a
careless
,
indifferent
kind
of
way
.
"
But
as
you
tell
me
that
you
are
in
the
juggling
line
—
—
"
"
Yes
—
we
are
;
and
we
ai
n't
ashamed
o
n't
,
"
exclaimed
two
or
three
of
the
men
together
.
"
Well
—
then
I
'll
explain
to
you
what
I
can
do
,
"
continued
Morcar
.
"
I
've
made
a
net
that
winds
round
an
immense
long
roller
,
which
must
be
raised
upon
two
upright
stakes
.
When
the
net
is
drawn
out
at
dusk
,
or
in
a
darkened
room
,
it
shows
a
thousand
different
figures
—
men
,
animals
,
fish
,
birds
,
snakes
,
and
monsters
of
all
kinds
.
"
"
Capital
!
—
capital
!
"
exclaimed
the
jugglers
.
"
But
that
is
n't
all
,
"
continued
Morcar
.
"
These
figures
all
move
about
—
skip
—
leap
—
dance
—
fly
—
crawl
—
or
seem
to
swim
,
according
to
their
nature
.
"
"
Come
,
come
—
that
wo
n't
do
!
"
said
one
of
the
men
,
who
began
to
think
the
gipsy
was
bantering
them
.
"
It
's
as
true
as
you
're
there
,
"
answered
Morcar
,
seriously
;
"
and
it
's
very
easy
to
do
,
too
:
—
only
a
little
phosphorus
and
other
chemical
things
,
skilfully
used
in
a
particular
way
.
I
reckon
upon
setting
all
the
young
children
wild
with
delight
when
they
see
it
.
"
"
And
if
you
can
really
do
what
you
say
,
"
observed
the
man
who
had
last
spoken
,
"
you
're
safe
to
make
your
ten
bob
a-day
.
But
,
then
,
"
he
added
,
with
a
sly
glance
towards
his
companions
,
"
the
trick
wo
n't
take
so
well
alone
:
it
ought
to
come
after
the
usual
exhibition
of
chaps
like
us
.
"
"
That
's
just
what
I
have
been
thinking
myself
,
"
cried
Morcar
.
"
Only
,
as
I
did
n't
know
any
people
in
your
way
—
—
"
"
Well
,
now
you
know
some
,
at
all
events
,
"
interrupted
the
spokesman
of
the
party
of
jugglers
;
"
and
though
I
say
it
what
should
n't
perhaps
,
you
wo
n't
find
a
jollier
or
better
set
of
fellers
than
us
in
all
England
.
What
should
you
say
to
making
a
bargain
with
us
?
"
"
I
have
no
objection
,
"
replied
Morcar
:
"
we
can
but
give
the
thing
a
trial
.
But
I
would
rather
begin
in
the
country
,
if
possible
,
than
in
London
.
"
"
The
very
ticket
!
"
cried
the
man
:
"
you
shall
begin
to-night
.
We
're
hired
to
perform
at
that
great
house
which
you
see
from
the
window
;
and
as
we
are
to
be
there
about
half
an
hour
before
sunset
,
it
will
just
be
dark
enough
at
the
end
of
our
performances
for
you
to
show
yours
.
What
do
you
say
?
"
"
Let
us
settle
the
terms
,
"
answered
Morcar
;
"
and
I
've
no
objection
.
"
The
five
jugglers
,
who
were
evidently
much
delighted
at
the
prospect
of
securing
so
valuable
an
addition
to
their
troop
,
consulted
together
in
whispers
for
a
short
period
,
while
Morcar
hummed
a
tune
as
if
perfectly
indifferent
whether
a
bargain
were
concluded
or
not
.
The
men
did
not
fail
to
remark
his
free
and
off-hand
manner
,
and
took
it
as
an
unquestionable
proof
of
his
confidence
in
the
value
of
his
invention
and
the
success
which
must
attend
upon
its
exhibition
.
They
therefore
resolved
to
enlist
him
on
almost
any
terms
.
"
Well
,
"
said
the
spokesman
of
the
party
,
at
length
turning
towards
Morcar
once
more
,
"
me
and
my
partners
here
have
no
objection
to
give
you
one-third
of
the
earnings
.
"
"
That
will
suit
my
purpose
uncommonly
,
"
replied
Morcar
:
"
so
let
us
shake
hands
upon
it
.
"
"
And
wet
it
,
"
added
one
of
the
jugglers
,
who
,
as
the
gipsy
subsequently
discovered
,
was
the
musician
of
the
party
—
his
instrumental
harmony
being
composed
of
the
huge
drum
and
a
set
of
Pandean
pipes
,
vulgarly
called
a
mouth-organ
.
The
process
of
shaking
hands
all
round
and
of
imbibing
more
strong
beer
was
then
gone
through
;
after
which
the
jugglers
became
very
anxious
to
see
the
marvellous
net
that
was
to
make
their
fortunes
.
They
were
,
therefore
,
somewhat
disappointed
when
Morcar
informed
them
that
one
of
the
tribe
had
conveyed
it
to
London
in
his
cart
the
day
before
;
but
their
elongating
countenances
expanded
once
more
into
smiles
of
satisfaction
when
he
assured
them
that
he
would
instantly
set
off
after
it
,
and
be
with
them
again
at
least
an
hour
previously
to
the
time
when
they
intended
to
visit
the
mansion
in
the
neighbourhood
.
Matters
being
thus
arranged
,
Morcar
took
his
departure
—
rejoiced
at
the
success
of
his
project
,
though
somewhat
annoyed
at
having
been
compelled
to
utter
so
many
falsehoods
to
the
credulous
jugglers
.
But
this
vexation
was
speedily
dissipated
by
the
remembrance
of
the
important
duty
which
he
had
undertaken
;
and
he
moreover
intended
to
make
the
poor
fellows
a
handsome
recompense
for
the
disappointment
they
were
destined
to
experience
relative
to
the
wonderful
net
.
It
is
not
necessary
to
follow
the
gipsy
's
footsteps
to
the
metropolis
,
and
back
to
the
Three
Kings
again
:
suffice
it
to
say
that
he
made
his
appearance
at
the
little
public-house
shortly
after
six
o'clock
in
the
evening
—
much
to
the
joy
of
the
five
jugglers
,
who
began
to
imagine
that
he
had
been
hoaxing
them
.
But
all
their
suspicions
vanished
when
they
beheld
the
gipsy
return
,
with
an
iron
rod
,
as
long
as
a
hop-pole
,
and
round
which
the
magic
net
was
rolled
,
over
his
shoulder
.
This
rod
was
not
much
thicker
than
the
thumb
,
but
the
bulk
of
the
burden
was
considerably
increased
by
the
folds
of
the
net
.
And
at
that
net
did
the
jugglers
stare
with
such
eager
eyes
,
that
Morcar
could
hardly
contain
his
laughter
:
for
the
net
was
nothing
more
than
a
common
one
of
the
very
largest
size
,
such
as
poachers
use
to
drag
canals
and
small
rivers
.
It
was
,
however
,
very
strong
,
and
when
stretched
out
would
cover
a
room
eighteen
feet
long
,
by
twelve
in
width
.
The
iron
rod
was
about
thirteen
feet
long
,
and
the
net
was
rolled
round
it
breadthways
.
"
You
will
let
us
have
a
sight
of
the
thing
before
we
go
?
"
said
one
of
the
jugglers
.
"
I
had
rather
rest
myself
for
half
an
hour
,
or
so
if
you
please
,
"
returned
Morcar
.
"
My
walk
to-day
has
been
none
of
the
shortest
;
and
I
am
sadly
fatigued
.
Your
curiosity
will
keep
till
by
and
by
;
for
as
I
have
fulfilled
my
word
in
coming
back
,
you
surely
can
trust
me
when
I
tell
you
that
this
net
,
simple
as
it
may
appear
,
will
do
all
I
have
promised
.
Besides
,
we
should
only
have
the
trouble
of
darkening
the
room
,
which
must
be
done
with
blankets
,
as
there
are
no
shutters
.
"
"
Let
our
new
friend
have
his
own
way
,
Mike
,
"
said
the
musician
of
the
troop
.
"
And
now
,
"
continued
Morcar
,
"
I
must
propose
a
certain
condition
,
without
giving
any
explanation
,
but
it
belongs
to
my
part
of
the
performance
.
What
I
require
is
this
:
—
one
of
you
must
remain
entirely
with
me
from
the
moment
I
pitch
the
stakes
to
which
this
net
is
to
be
fastened
;
and
the
one
who
so
remains
with
me
,
must
do
just
as
I
direct
him
in
the
arrangement
of
the
net
;
because
I
must
seize
a
particular
time
of
the
evening
,
in
regard
to
the
twilight
,
to
unroll
it
.
"
"
Well
—
that
can
be
managed
without
difficulty
,
"
said
the
man
who
had
been
addressed
as
Mike
.
"
It
is
always
my
business
to
collect
the
coppers
after
the
exhibition
;
and
I
take
no
share
in
the
performances
.
So
I
can
remain
with
you
—
and
whatever
you
tell
me
to
do
,
shall
be
done
.
"
"
So
far
,
so
good
,
"
exclaimed
Morcar
.
"
And
now
,
as
it
is
pretty
nearly
time
to
set
off
,
we
had
better
begin
to
dress
.
"
"
Are
you
going
to
dress
too
?
"
demanded
Mike
,
with
mingled
satisfaction
and
astonishment
.
"
Only
just
to
disguise
myself
a
bit
,
"
answered
Morcar
,
taking
a
huge
red
wig
from
one
pocket
and
a
hideous
mask
from
another
;
"
because
there
's
often
a
prejudice
amongst
people
—
especially
young
ones
—
against
gipsies
.
"
"
So
there
is
,
"
observed
Mike
.
"
Besides
,
it
's
much
better
to
go
in
character
,
as
they
say
.
"
The
jugglers
were
now
in
high
spirits
;
and
they
speedily
addressed
themselves
to
the
process
of
changing
their
common
apparel
for
the
professional
costume
.
CHAPTER
CCXXXVIII
.
THE
PERFORMANCE
.
The
evening
was
serene
and
beautiful
.
A
few
thin
vapours
floated
lazily
through
the
blue
arch
,
the
hue
of
which
was
deliciously
mellowed
by
the
golden
light
of
the
sun
.
It
was
about
seven
o'clock
;
and
the
principal
inmates
of
Ravensworth
Hall
were
collected
in
the
drawing-room
.
Adeline
,
pale
,
emaciated
,
and
care-worn
,
was
reclining
upon
the
sofa
;
and
near
her
sate
Eliza
Sydney
.
The
nurse
was
walking
up
and
down
the
apartment
,
with
the
infant
heir
in
her
arms
.
Gilbert
Vernon
was
standing
outside
the
window
,
on
a
spacious
balcony
,
around
which
were
placed
green
wooden
boxes
and
garden-pots
containing
shrubs
and
early
flowers
.
"
The
evening
is
very
beautiful
,
"
said
Eliza
,
in
a
low
tone
,
to
Adeline
:
"
will
you
not
walk
with
me
through
the
Park
?
The
nurse
shall
accompany
us
and
the
child
can
be
well
wrapped
up
.
But
,
indeed
,
there
are
no
dangers
to
fear
—
for
the
earth
is
parched
with
the
heat
of
the
day
.
"
"
I
feel
incapable
of
any
energy
,
"
answered
Adeline
,
mournfully
—
very
mournfully
.
"
Never
have
my
spirits
been
so
depressed
as
they
are
this
evening
.
Methinks
that
a
presentiment
of
evil
near
at
hand
,
weighs
upon
my
soul
.
Oh
!
when
will
this
dread
state
of
suspense
terminate
?
For
five
long
weeks
has
it
now
lasted
—
—
"
"
Hush
!
lady
—
speak
lower
!
"
interrupted
Eliza
.
"
Mr.
Vernon
might
suddenly
enter
from
the
balcony
.
"
"
Ah
!
my
dear
friend
,
"
returned
Adeline
;
"
do
I
not
suffer
a
fearful
penalty
for
my
crimes
?
But
human
nature
cannot
endure
this
doubt
—
this
appalling
uncertainty
any
longer
!
What
does
he
mean
?
what
can
be
his
plans
?
"
"
Would
that
we
were
indeed
able
to
read
them
!
"
said
Eliza
,
earnestly
.
"
But
the
term
of
this
strange
drama
must
speedily
arrive
,
"
she
continued
,
sinking
her
voice
to
a
scarcely
audible
whisper
,
as
she
leant
over
the
unhappy
lady
whom
she
thus
addressed
.
"
Vernon
does
not
remain
here
from
motives
of
pleasure
:
he
has
not
abandoned
his
projects
.
"
"
Yet
wherefore
should
he
appear
so
affectionate
towards
the
child
?
"
asked
Adeline
.
"
When
he
first
took
my
sweet
Ferdinand
in
his
arms
,
oh
!
how
I
trembled
lest
he
should
strangle
him
in
his
embrace
;
and
had
not
a
look
from
you
reassured
me
,
I
should
have
shrieked
with
terror
!
But
now
I
scarcely
entertain
a
fear
when
I
see
my
brother-in-law
fondle
my
child
.
Tell
me
,
dear
friend
—
how
must
I
account
for
this
altered
state
of
feelings
?
"
"
Habit
has
taught
you
to
subdue
your
alarms
in
this
respect
,
"
replied
Eliza
Sydney
.
"
Your
brother-in-law
has
gradually
devoted
more
and
more
of
his
attention
to
your
dear
Ferdinand
;
and
as
he
never
seeks
to
take
him
—
nor
even
to
approach
him
—
save
with
your
consent
,
you
are
to
some
extent
thrown
off
your
guard
.
Then
,
as
a
mother
,
you
are
naturally
inclined
to
think
better
of
that
man
since
he
has
thus
seemed
to
manifest
an
affection
for
his
nephew
.
But
,
be
not
deceived
,
lady
—
his
soul
is
deep
and
designing
!
Think
you
that
he
cares
for
a
babe
not
yet
ten
weeks
old
?
Oh
!
no
—
it
is
not
probable
!
And
when
he
talks
in
a
hypocritical
tone
of
his
lamented
brother
's
child
—
and
expresses
those
apparently
earnest
hopes
that
the
heir
of
Ravensworth
may
eventually
prove
an
honour
to
the
noble
house
to
which
he
belongs
,
and
to
the
ancient
name
which
he
bears
,
—
ah
!
be
not
deceived
by
him
,
lady
—
I
implore
you
:
he
means
nothing
that
is
good
—
he
is
playing
a
part
,
the
true
object
of
which
I
cannot
fathom
!
"
"
Oh
!
think
not
that
I
am
deceived
by
him
,
dear
friend
,
"
answered
Lady
Ravensworth
:
"
think
not
that
my
suspicions
relative
to
him
are
hushed
.
No
—
no
:
else
wherefore
should
I
complain
of
this
cruel
suspense
?
There
are
times
,
indeed
,
when
I
could
throw
myself
at
his
feet
—
implore
him
to
quit
these
walls
—
and
beg
upon
my
knees
for
mercy
towards
my
child
!
Does
this
show
that
I
have
forgotten
all
those
circumstances
which
have
led
us
to
look
upon
him
with
an
abhorrence
that
we
have
alike
had
so
much
difficulty
to
conceal
?
"
"
I
am
aware
of
all
you
must
suffer
,
"
answered
Eliza
,
with
a
profound
sigh
;
for
she
pitied
—
deeply
pitied
the
wretched
but
criminal
woman
:
"
still
it
is
for
your
child
's
sake
that
I
have
tutored
you
to
play
this
game
of
hypocrisy
,
—
that
I
have
induced
you
and
compelled
myself
to
endure
the
society
of
one
who
is
loathsome
to
us
both
,
—
and
that
we
have
even
condescended
to
veil
beneath
smiles
our
consciousness
of
his
character
and
atrocious
designs
.
This
has
been
the
sum
of
our
hypocrisy
;
—
and
how
venial
it
is
!
And
now
that
all
my
plans
are
so
nearly
matured
—
with
the
exception
of
the
return
of
my
messenger
from
Beyrout
—
—
"
"
And
on
his
return
?
"
said
Adeline
,
anxiously
.
"
Have
I
not
assured
you
that
the
moment
which
places
in
my
hands
the
conclusive
proofs
of
Vernon
's
guilt
—
the
only
link
wanting
to
complete
the
chain
—
—
"
Eliza
Sydney
was
suddenly
interrupted
by
an
exclamation
which
came
from
the
lips
of
Gilbert
Vernon
.
She
rose
,
and
hastened
to
the
window
.
"
Here
is
a
troop
of
poor
fellows
who
doubtless
endeavour
to
earn
an
honest
penny
by
their
agility
and
skill
,
"
said
Vernon
;
"
and
in
a
country
where
mendicity
is
a
crime
,
even
such
a
livelihood
as
theirs
is
honourably
gained
.
"
Had
not
Eliza
Sydney
's
curiosity
been
at
the
moment
attracted
by
the
strange
appearance
of
the
corps
of
mountebanks
to
whom
Vernon
alluded
,
and
who
were
advancing
towards
the
Hall
,
she
would
have
been
struck
with
surprise
at
the
emanation
of
such
generous
sentiments
from
so
cold-hearted
,
austere
,
and
aristocratic
a
person
as
he
.
But
her
attention
was
for
the
time
directed
towards
six
persons
,
five
of
whom
were
clad
in
the
light
grotesque
manner
in
which
mountebanks
appear
at
country-fairs
,
and
even
not
unfrequently
in
the
streets
of
London
.
They
wore
flesh-coloured
stockings
,
nankin
breeches
,
and
jackets
of
variegated
colours
,
as
if
,
in
respect
to
this
latter
article
of
their
apparel
,
they
attempted
to
vie
with
the
peculiar
costume
of
world-renowned
Harlequin
.
The
sixth
was
dressed
in
a
common
garb
,
and
wore
a
hideous
mask
.
One
of
the
jugglers
carried
an
enormous
drum
slung
behind
his
back
,
and
had
a
set
of
Pandean
pipes
tucked
in
his
neckcloth
beneath
his
chin
;
and
another
was
laden
with
a
wicker-basket
.
The
man
who
was
dressed
in
the
common
garb
and
wore
the
mask
,
bore
a
long
rod
with
a
net
twisted
round
it
,
upon
his
shoulder
.
A
fourth
carried
two
stout
stakes
;
and
the
remaining
two
were
empty-handed
,
although
it
was
evident
by
their
dress
that
they
took
no
small
share
in
the
performances
which
itinerant
mountebanks
and
conjurors
of
this
kind
are
in
the
habit
of
exhibiting
.
We
must
observe
,
in
respect
to
the
man
who
wore
the
mask
,
and
who
,
as
the
reader
already
knows
,
was
the
gipsy
Morcar
,
that
beneath
his
ample
straw
hat
,
and
over
the
edges
of
the
mask
,
projected
huge
bushes
of
reddish-yellow
hair
,
which
seemed
as
if
they
had
once
belonged
to
a
door-mat
.
He
walked
,
a
little
apart
from
the
others
,
in
company
with
the
man
who
carried
the
stakes
.
"
These
conjurors
evidently
contemplate
an
exhibition
upon
the
lawn
before
the
windows
,
"
said
Eliza
Sydney
,
as
the
men
drew
nearer
to
the
house
.
"
I
will
send
them
out
some
money
and
request
them
to
retire
,
as
such
performances
are
not
suitable
to
a
spot
where
mourning
is
still
worn
for
the
deceased
lord
.
"
"
That
were
a
pity
,
Mrs.
Beaufort
,
"
returned
Vernon
.
"
These
poor
creatures
have
their
little
feelings
as
well
as
performers
on
the
boards
of
our
national
theatres
;
and
I
am
sure
you
possess
too
good
a
heart
to
wound
them
.
No
—
let
them
remain
;
and
if
you
can
induce
her
ladyship
to
witness
their
sports
from
the
balcony
,
she
might
be
cheered
for
the
moment
.
"
"
I
should
be
sorry
to
wound
the
feelings
of
any
living
being
who
did
not
injure
me
,
"
answered
Eliza
:
"
but
—
—
"
"
Nay
,
my
dear
Mrs.
Beaufort
,
"
interrupted
Vernon
,
"
do
not
refuse
me
this
request
.
You
cannot
think
that
I
am
boy
enough
to
care
for
the
tricks
of
these
jugglers
;
but
I
am
well
aware
—
setting
aside
any
consideration
on
their
behalf
—
that
the
most
trivial
and
frivolous
amusement
will
often
produce
a
favourable
impression
upon
the
spirits
.
Let
Lady
Ravensworth
come
to
the
window
.
"
Eliza
scarcely
knew
how
to
offer
any
farther
objection
:
she
was
,
however
,
about
to
make
some
remark
in
answer
to
Mr.
Vernon
,
when
the
point
at
issue
was
settled
by
that
gentleman
beckoning
the
foremost
mountebank
to
advance
under
the
window
.
"
Now
,
my
good
fellow
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
looking
over
the
parapet
of
the
balcony
,
and
tossing
the
man
a
sovereign
,
"
let
us
see
how
well
you
can
amuse
us
.
"
"
Thank'ee
,
sir
,
"
cried
the
man
,
receiving
the
money
in
his
straw-hat
.
"
We
'll
do
our
best
,
you
may
depend
upon
it
,
sir
.
"
He
then
returned
to
his
companions
,
who
had
stationed
themselves
at
a
short
distance
on
the
lawn
.
The
mountebanks
forthwith
commenced
their
preparations
.
The
wicker-basket
was
placed
upon
the
ground
;
and
its
contents
were
speedily
disposed
in
a
manner
to
suit
the
performances
.
A
long
rope
was
tied
to
two
trees
of
about
twenty
yards
'
distance
from
each
other
:
some
common
blue
plates
and
a
wash-hand
basin
were
laid
upon
the
grass
;
and
then
a
number
of
small
yellow
balls
were
ranged
in
a
line
,
and
at
short
intervals
apart
,
across
the
lawn
.
While
some
of
the
men
were
making
these
arrangements
,
Morcar
and
his
companion
advanced
to
within
a
short
distance
of
the
balcony
,
and
drove
the
two
stakes
firmly
into
the
ground
.
To
the
tops
of
these
stakes
they
fastened
the
ends
of
the
iron
rod
,
without
however
unrolling
the
net
,
but
in
such
a
manner
that
the
rod
itself
would
revolve
with
ease
,
and
the
entire
net
might
be
drawn
out
in
a
moment
.
They
then
took
their
posts
each
by
one
of
the
stakes
,
and
there
remained
motionless
.
In
the
meantime
the
man
with
the
drum
and
the
mouth-organ
had
commenced
his
instrumental
harmony
,
such
as
it
was
;
and
,
at
the
sound
,
the
servants
of
the
Hall
flocked
from
their
offices
to
the
steps
of
the
entrance
,
well
pleased
to
observe
that
the
monotony
of
their
existence
in
a
dwelling
where
no
company
was
now
received
,
was
about
to
be
broken
by
even
the
performances
of
a
few
wandering
mountebanks
.
In
the
drawing-room
,
Vernon
was
still
stationed
at
the
balcony
;
and
the
nurse
,
holding
the
sleeping
child
in
her
arms
,
had
approached
the
open
window
outside
of
which
Vernon
was
thus
standing
.
Eliza
Sydney
had
returned
to
the
side
of
Lady
Ravensworth
,
to
whom
she
mentioned
the
presence
of
the
mountebanks
and
the
encouragement
which
they
had
received
from
Mr.
Vernon
.
"
Does
he
suppose
that
my
spirits
can
possibly
be
elevated
by
a
buffoonery
of
this
nature
?
"
said
Adeline
,
her
lip
curling
with
contemptuous
hauteur
.
"
Besides
,
such
a
proceeding
is
most
indecent
—
most
indelicate
—
on
the
very
spot
where
a
funeral
so
lately
passed
!
"
"
And
yet
it
suits
not
our
present
purpose
to
anger
him
,
"
returned
Eliza
.
Lady
Ravensworth
was
about
to
reply
,
when
Quentin
entered
the
room
and
placed
a
letter
in
Eliza
's
hands
.
The
valet
then
withdrew
.
Eliza
immediately
recognised
the
writing
of
the
faithful
Filippo
,
and
opened
it
in
haste
.
Her
countenance
evinced
signs
of
satisfaction
as
she
perused
its
contents
;
but
ere
she
reached
the
end
,
she
sighed
deeply
.
"
You
have
evil
tidings
there
,
"
whispered
Lady
Ravensworth
,
who
had
attentively
watched
her
friend
's
countenance
.
"
And
yet
,
methought
you
smiled
at
first
.
"
"
I
smiled
,
"
answered
Eliza
,
also
in
a
low
tone
,
"
because
I
was
rejoiced
to
find
that
the
only
link
wanting
to
complete
the
chain
of
evidence
against
that
villain
"
—
glancing
towards
the
window
as
she
thus
spoke
—
"
is
now
complete
;
—
and
to-morrow
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
your
messenger
is
returned
from
Beyrout
?
"
said
Adeline
,
joyfully
.
"
Then
wherefore
seem
sorrowful
?
"
"
Because
the
tidings
which
I
now
receive
confirms
the
terrible
suspicion
that
your
husband
was
indeed
murdered
,
—
coldly
—
systematically
—
methodically
murdered
,
—
by
his
own
brother
!
"
answered
Eliza
.
"
Alas
!
for
the
honour
of
human
nature
that
such
things
should
be
!
"
Adeline
became
red
as
scarlet
,
and
a
profound
sigh
escaped
her
bosom
;
—
for
was
she
not
also
a
disgrace
to
human
nature
?
Eliza
forgot
at
the
moment
that
her
words
were
calculated
to
wound
the
already
deeply
lacerated
heart
of
Lady
Ravensworth
;
—
else
not
for
a
moment
—
criminal
as
Adeline
was
—
would
those
words
have
escaped
her
tongue
.
Neither
did
she
perceive
the
acute
emotions
which
she
had
awakened
;
for
she
was
intent
upon
the
reflections
excited
by
the
arrival
of
Filippo
's
letter
.
In
the
meantime
the
sports
upon
the
lawn
had
commenced
.
One
of
the
mountebanks
ascended
to
the
tightrope
,
and
performed
many
curious
evolutions
,
much
to
the
amusement
not
only
of
the
servants
assembled
upon
the
steps
at
the
entrance
,
but
even
of
the
nurse
at
the
window
.
When
the
dancing
was
over
,
a
second
juggler
balanced
first
a
blue
plate
,
and
then
the
basin
,
on
the
point
of
a
long
stick
—
making
them
spin
rapidly
round
,
to
the
especial
delight
of
the
female
servants
.
The
nurse
,
too
,
was
so
very
much
amused
that
she
crossed
the
threshold
of
the
window
,
and
advanced
a
little
upon
the
balcony
,
the
better
to
view
the
performance
.
Vernon
seemed
intent
upon
the
sports
,
and
did
not
appear
to
notice
that
the
ladies
were
not
spectators
also
.
But
perhaps
he
might
have
thought
that
they
were
at
another
window
.
And
all
this
while
Morcar
,
with
his
mask
and
bushy
yellow
hair
,
and
his
assistant
Mike
,
were
stationed
each
by
one
of
the
stakes
to
which
the
net
was
fixed
.
From
time
to
time
Vernon
had
looked
over
the
balcony
at
these
two
men
,
whose
presence
there
seemed
somewhat
to
annoy
him
:
and
when
the
exhibition
of
the
plates
and
basin
was
over
,
he
leant
forward
,
exclaiming
,
"
Well
,
my
good
fellows
,
when
does
your
turn
come
?
and
what
are
you
going
to
do
with
that
iron
pole
and
net
?
"
"
You
shall
see
presently
,
sir
,
"
replied
Morcar
.
"
It
will
be
the
best
trick
of
the
whole
—
as
I
know
you
'll
admit
.
"
"
It
is
all
right
,
"
thought
Vernon
to
himself
.
"
These
fellows
know
not
the
motive
for
which
they
were
hired
;
and
therefore
the
fact
of
their
placing
the
net
there
can
only
be
a
coincidence
.
However
,
it
is
far
enough
away
from
the
flag-stones
to
suit
my
purpose
.
"
Such
were
the
rapid
reflections
which
passed
through
Vernon
's
brain
.
And
had
searching
eyes
been
fixed
upon
his
countenance
now
,
they
would
have
observed
that
although
he
seemed
to
watch
the
sports
with
a
zest
passing
strange
in
a
man
of
his
years
,
there
were
far
more
important
matters
agitating
in
his
brain
;
—
for
his
face
was
pale
—
his
lips
quivered
from
time
to
time
—
and
,
even
while
his
head
remained
stationary
as
if
he
were
looking
straight
towards
the
lawn
,
his
eyes
were
wild
and
wandering
.
Amidst
the
servants
on
the
steps
of
the
entrance
stood
the
Resurrection
Man
,
apparently
one
of
the
most
enthusiastic
admirers
of
the
sport
.
But
he
—
as
well
as
his
employer
in
the
balcony
—
was
somewhat
annoyed
when
he
beheld
the
iron
rod
and
the
net
which
was
rolled
round
it
,
placed
upon
the
stakes
on
the
verge
of
the
lawn
almost
beneath
the
open
window
of
the
drawing-room
.
Another
circumstance
likewise
engaged
his
attention
.
This
was
that
he
had
only
seen
five
jugglers
when
he
had
first
hired
them
for
the
performances
;
whereas
there
were
now
six
present
.
He
,
however
,
consoled
himself
with
the
idea
that
the
man
in
the
mask
and
his
companion
had
taken
their
station
so
near
the
balcony
,
simply
because
their
exhibition
,
whatever
it
was
,
should
be
better
viewed
by
the
inmates
of
the
drawing-room
;
and
relative
to
the
presence
of
the
sixth
juggler
,
he
said
to
himself
upon
second
thoughts
,
"
Well
,
after
all
,
the
troop
might
have
been
joined
by
another
comrade
since
I
saw
them
last
night
.
"
But
to
continue
the
thread
of
our
narrative
.
The
last
beams
of
the
setting
sun
were
flickering
faintly
in
the
western
horizon
,
when
the
jugglers
commenced
what
may
be
termed
the
third
act
of
their
performances
—
namely
,
the
athletic
exercises
.
They
had
wrestling
matches
,
took
extraordinary
leaps
,
and
performed
various
other
feats
of
strength
and
skill
.
These
being
over
,
one
of
the
band
threw
himself
back
,
supporting
himself
with
his
hands
on
the
ground
,
and
in
this
position
ran
on
all
fours
along
the
line
of
yellow
balls
,
picking
them
up
with
his
mouth
,
one
after
the
other
,
with
astonishing
rapidity
.
This
feat
elicited
a
burst
of
applause
from
the
servants
on
the
steps
;
and
the
nurse
,
still
holding
the
child
in
her
arms
,
advanced
close
up
to
the
parapet
of
the
balcony
.
The
sun
had
already
set
when
that
last
feat
began
:
the
twilight
was
,
however
,
sufficiently
strong
to
permit
the
spectators
to
obtain
a
good
view
of
the
performance
.
But
the
jugglers
now
paused
for
a
few
minutes
to
rest
themselves
;
and
during
that
interval
the
duskiness
sensibly
increased
.
"
I
wonder
what
these
men
are
going
to
do
with
their
iron
pole
and
net
,
"
observed
Vernon
.
"
Surely
their
turn
must
have
come
now
?
"
The
nurse
looked
over
the
parapet
to
see
whether
the
man
in
the
mask
and
his
companion
were
still
stationed
near
their
apparatus
,
the
use
of
which
puzzled
her
amazingly
.
At
that
moment
two
of
the
jugglers
who
had
advanced
from
the
lawn
towards
the
flag-stones
that
skirted
the
wall
of
the
mansion
,
threw
each
a
detonating-ball
upon
the
pavement
.
The
explosion
was
loud
—
abrupt
—
startling
;
and
a
volume
of
dense
smoke
instantly
burst
as
it
were
from
the
ground
,
enveloping
the
balcony
,
and
pouring
even
into
the
drawing-room
through
the
open
window
.
And
,
almost
at
the
same
instant
that
the
explosion
took
place
,
a
terrible
scream
pierced
the
air
;
and
this
was
followed
by
agonising
shrieks
,
mingled
with
frantic
cries
of
"
The
child
!
the
child
!
"
"
Merciful
heavens
!
"
ejaculated
Eliza
Sydney
,
rushing
from
her
seat
near
Lady
Adeline
to
the
window
.
But
she
was
met
by
the
nurse
,
who
darted
in
from
the
balcony
,
clasping
her
hands
together
,
and
still
screaming
wildly
—
"
The
child
!
the
child
!
"
"
Holy
God
!
"
cried
Vernon
,
also
rushing
into
the
room
:
"
the
infant
has
fallen
over
!
Oh
!
my
nephew
—
my
dear
nephew
!
"
And
he
sank
upon
a
chair
,
as
if
overcome
by
his
grief
.
"
Murderer
!
—
vile
—
detestable
assassin
!
"
exclaimed
Eliza
Sydney
:
"
this
was
no
accident
!
"
"
Madam
,
"
cried
Vernon
,
starting
from
his
seat
,
"
recall
those
words
—
or
I
will
not
answer
for
my
passion
!
"
"
No
—
I
dare
you
—
monster
,
murderer
that
you
are
!
"
ejaculated
Eliza
,
as
she
forced
the
nurse
,
who
was
raving
violently
,
to
a
sofa
.
At
that
moment
shouts
of
delight
were
heard
from
below
;
and
loud
cries
of
"
Saved
!
saved
!
"
reached
all
the
inmates
of
the
drawing-room
—
save
Lady
Ravensworth
,
who
had
fainted
the
instant
the
first
wild
scream
of
the
nurse
had
struck
her
ears
like
a
death-omen
.
"
Saved
!
saved
!
"
repeated
the
nurse
,
catching
at
the
joyous
sound
,
and
now
becoming
hysterical
with
the
effects
of
the
revulsion
of
emotions
thereby
produced
.
"
Oh
!
if
it
be
indeed
true
!
"
cried
Eliza
Sydney
,
darting
towards
the
balcony
;
but
it
was
now
too
dark
to
distinguish
any
thing
that
was
passing
below
.
Her
suspense
did
not
,
however
,
endure
many
moments
longer
;
for
the
door
of
the
drawing-room
was
suddenly
thrown
open
,
and
the
man
in
the
mask
rushed
in
,
crying
"
Saved
!
saved
!
"
Eliza
Sydney
hastened
to
meet
him
,
and
received
the
child
in
her
arms
.
The
little
innocent
was
indeed
unhurt
,
to
all
appearance
,
but
was
crying
bitterly
.
"
Thank
God
!
thank
God
!
"
exclaimed
Eliza
,
fervently
,
as
she
pressed
the
child
to
her
bosom
.
Quentin
now
made
his
appearance
with
lights
:
and
several
of
the
servants
had
followed
him
as
far
as
the
door
of
the
room
.
"
Call
the
lady's-maid
,
Quentin
,
for
your
mistress
,
"
said
Eliza
,
hastily
:
"
she
has
fainted
!
Bring
water
—
vinegar
—
perfume
;
—
I
dare
not
part
with
the
child
!
"
The
lady's-maid
was
close
by
;
and
,
hastening
into
the
room
,
she
devoted
the
necessary
attentions
to
Adeline
,
who
,
soon
recovering
,
opened
her
eyes
,
gazed
wildly
around
,
and
then
exclaimed
in
a
frantic
tone
,
"
My
child
!
my
child
!
"
"
He
is
safe
—
he
is
unharmed
,
dear
lady
,
"
said
Eliza
Sydney
,
advancing
towards
the
sofa
with
the
babe
in
her
arms
.
"
Give
him
to
me
—
to
me
only
,
—
for
I
am
his
mother
—
and
I
will
protect
him
!
"
cried
Adeline
in
a
shrieking
tone
:
then
,
receiving
the
infant
from
her
friend
,
she
clasped
it
with
frantic
fondness
to
her
bosom
.
In
the
meantime
—
although
this
scene
occupied
but
a
few
minutes
—
Gilbert
Vernon
had
sunk
upon
a
chair
,
like
one
intoxicated
.
A
film
came
over
his
eyes
—
his
brain
reeled
—
and
he
could
not
accurately
distinguish
what
was
passing
around
him
.
Amidst
the
sudden
chaos
into
which
his
ideas
were
plunged
,
one
thought
was
alone
clear
—
defined
—
and
unobscured
;
and
this
was
that
the
child
was
saved
!
The
moment
Eliza
Sidney
had
consigned
the
heir
of
Ravensworth
to
the
arms
of
his
mother
,
she
said
in
a
hasty
whisper
to
Quentin
,
"
Secure
Anthony
Tidkins
without
delay
,
and
order
the
carriage
immediately
.
"
The
valet
quitted
the
room
;
and
Eliza
then
advanced
towards
Gilbert
Vernon
,
exclaiming
in
a
loud
tone
,
"
Arrest
this
villain
—
hold
him
—
keep
him
safely
,
till
the
officers
of
justice
can
be
sent
for
.
He
murdered
his
brother
;
and
ere
now
he
has
sought
to
murder
that
innocent
babe
!
"
As
these
words
,
uttered
with
terrible
emphasis
,
fell
upon
the
ears
of
the
servants
,
a
cry
of
horror
and
execration
burst
from
their
lips
;
and
Vernon
,
starting
up
,
exclaimed
,
"
Who
accuses
me
?
Wretches
—
you
dare
not
say
that
I
did
such
deeds
!
"
But
the
next
moment
he
was
pinioned
by
a
pair
of
powerful
arms
;
for
Morcar
,
who
had
hastily
thrown
off
his
mask
and
wig
,
was
prepared
to
secure
the
guilty
man
.
"
Release
me
,
villain
!
"
cried
Vernon
,
struggling
furiously
—
but
without
avail
;
for
some
of
the
male
domestics
of
the
household
now
assisted
the
gipsy
to
retain
him
.
"
You
shall
suffer
for
this
outrage
—
you
shall
pay
dearly
for
your
conduct
!
Who
dares
accuse
me
of
an
attempt
on
that
child
's
life
?
"
"
I
!
"
answered
Eliza
Sydney
,
boldly
.
"
And
I
also
!
"
echoed
Morcar
.
"
Yes
—
and
I
too
,
murderous
wretch
!
"
exclaimed
the
nurse
,
stepping
forward
.
"
This
is
absurd
—
ridiculous
!
"
cried
Vernon
,
ceasing
to
struggle
,
and
sinking
back
into
the
chair
.
"
You
all
know
how
I
loved
my
nephew
—
how
I
fondled
the
dear
infant
;
and
you
cannot
—
no
—
you
cannot
suppose
—
—
"
"
I
recollect
it
all
now
!
"
ejaculated
the
nurse
,
vehemently
.
"
The
sudden
explosion
of
those
fireworks
frightened
me
dreadfully
,
and
I
loosened
my
hold
upon
the
child
:
but
—
if
I
was
standing
before
my
God
,
I
could
declare
with
truth
that
the
babe
was
at
that
very
same
moment
pushed
from
my
arms
!
—
Oh
!
yes
—
I
remember
it
all
now
!
"
A
second
burst
of
indignation
on
the
part
of
the
servants
struck
terror
to
the
heart
of
the
guilty
wretch
,
who
writhed
upon
his
chair
;
while
the
workings
of
his
ashy
pale
countenance
—
the
convulsive
movements
of
his
lips
—
and
the
wild
rolling
of
his
eyes
,
were
terrible
—
terrible
!
Nevertheless
he
mustered
up
courage
sufficient
to
exclaim
,
"
That
woman
speaks
falsely
!
She
dropped
the
child
—
and
she
would
throw
the
blame
on
me
!
"
"
She
speaks
truly
,
—
vile
—
black-hearted
man
!
"
cried
Eliza
.
"
And
now
,
learn
that
the
sole
object
of
my
presence
in
this
mansion
has
been
to
frustrate
your
diabolical
plots
,
which
for
weeks
have
been
known
to
me
!
"
"
You
!
"
said
Vernon
,
quailing
beneath
the
indignant
glance
of
abhorrence
which
the
royal
widow
fixed
upon
him
.
"
Yes
,
"
she
continued
:
"
not
only
have
I
remained
here
to
frustrate
your
plots
—
which
,
alas
!
would
have
succeeded
in
destroying
the
child
,
had
not
some
strange
accident
,
as
yet
unaccounted
for
,
at
least
to
me
,
saved
the
innocent
babe
from
being
dashed
to
pieces
against
the
stones
beneath
the
balcony
;
—
but
I
have
also
adopted
those
measures
which
will
bring
all
your
guilt
most
terribly
home
to
you
!
Treacherous
—
infamous
man
,
I
denounce
you
as
the
murderer
of
your
brother
!
"
"
'
Tis
false
—
false
as
hell
!
"
cried
Vernon
.
"
It
is
,
alas
!
too
true
,
"
returned
Eliza
.
"
I
have
damning
proofs
against
you
!
"
"
Again
I
declare
it
is
false
!
"
said
Gilbert
,
violently
.
"
Let
us
see
,
"
resumed
Eliza
.
"
You
profess
to
have
arrived
from
the
East
a
few
weeks
ago
;
and
you
have
been
in
England
since
December
or
January
last
!
Lady
Ravensworth
heard
your
voice
in
the
ruined
lodge
—
—
"
"
Ridiculous
!
—
a
mere
coincidence
—
a
false
impression
!
"
exclaimed
Vernon
.
"
And
your
landlady
in
Stamford
Street
can
prove
that
you
lodged
with
her
for
several
months
,
"
added
Eliza
.
"
Monster
!
"
ejaculated
one
of
the
servants
who
had
hold
upon
him
.
"
All
this
proves
nothing
,
"
cried
Vernon
,
furiously
.
"
But
the
tobacco
which
you
sent
your
brother
was
poisoned
,
"
said
Eliza
,
with
bitter
emphasis
.
"
'
Tis
false
!
It
has
been
submitted
to
tests
:
the
surgeon
who
attended
my
brother
had
it
analysed
.
All
the
inmates
of
the
household
can
speak
to
this
fact
.
"
"
And
I
also
have
had
it
analysed
,
"
returned
Eliza
;
"
and
by
a
native
of
the
East
!
Fire
alone
can
develope
its
poisonous
qualities
;
and
the
ablest
chemists
in
England
shall
shortly
test
it
by
means
of
that
process
!
"
"
Even
were
it
the
rankest
poison
known
,
you
cannot
show
that
I
sent
it
to
my
brother
.
I
deny
the
charge
—
I
scorn
the
imputation
!
"
cried
Gilbert
Vernon
.
"
You
will
speak
in
a
tone
of
diminished
confidence
,
"
said
Eliza
,
calmly
,
"
when
you
hear
that
I
despatched
a
messenger
to
Beyrout
—
that
the
very
place
where
you
purchased
the
tobacco
in
that
town
has
been
discovered
—
that
the
merchant
who
shipped
it
for
you
has
made
an
affidavit
before
the
British
Consul
at
Beyrout
to
this
effect
—
and
that
the
precise
time
when
you
embarked
from
Beyrout
for
England
has
also
been
ascertained
.
Nay
,
more
—
the
letters
sent
to
your
address
in
that
town
,
announcing
the
death
of
your
brother
,
reached
their
destination
long
after
you
had
left
,
and
were
never
opened
—
nor
even
seen
by
you
!
Yet
you
affected
to
return
to
England
in
consequence
of
the
receipt
of
those
letters
.
"
"
And
who
are
you
,
madam
,
that
have
taken
such
pains
to
collect
these
particulars
,
which
you
are
pleased
to
call
evidence
against
me
?
"
demanded
Vernon
.
"
Is
the
scion
of
a
noble
race
to
be
maligned
—
outraged
—
accused
of
atrocious
crimes
by
an
unknown
but
meddling
woman
?
"
"
Again
you
speak
at
random
,
"
answered
Eliza
;
"
for
did
I
choose
to
proclaim
my
title
and
my
rank
,
you
would
admit
that
not
even
the
owners
of
the
proud
name
of
Ravensworth
possess
a
dignity
so
exalted
as
mine
.
Let
me
,
however
,
return
to
the
sad
subject
of
my
discourse
:
let
me
convince
you
that
the
evidence
of
your
crime
is
so
overwhelming
that
penitence
and
prayer
would
become
you
far
more
than
obstinacy
,
and
haughty
but
vain
denial
!
For
if
there
be
farther
proofs
of
your
guilt
required
,
seek
them
for
yourself
in
those
circumstances
which
induced
you
to
take
into
your
service
Anthony
Tidkins
,
the
Resurrection
Man
!
"
Vernon
shuddered
fearfully
as
these
words
fell
upon
his
ears
;
for
it
seemed
as
if
a
sledge-hammer
had
been
suddenly
struck
upon
his
brain
.
"
And
if
farther
proofs
are
really
wanting
,
lady
,
"
said
Morcar
,
"
it
is
for
me
to
supply
them
.
This
morning
I
was
concealed
in
the
ruins
of
a
cottage
at
no
great
distance
from
the
Hall
;
and
there
my
ears
were
astounded
with
the
damnable
plot
which
this
man
and
his
accomplice
had
conceived
against
the
life
of
the
infant
heir
of
Ravensworth
.
Why
I
did
not
immediately
betray
them
—
why
I
resolved
on
counteracting
that
plot
,
I
will
explain
on
a
more
fitting
occasion
.
But
let
me
inform
you
that
it
was
by
my
device
the
child
was
saved
;
for
the
instant
that
the
arms
of
the
jugglers
were
raised
to
throw
the
detonating
balls
upon
the
ground
,
the
net
was
unrolled
—
rapid
as
lightning
—
by
my
companion
and
myself
;
and
the
babe
was
caught
in
it
as
he
fell
!
"
"
Excellent
man
!
"
exclaimed
Eliza
Sydney
,
while
a
murmur
of
applause
passed
amongst
the
assembled
servants
:
"
who
are
you
?
what
is
your
name
?
"
"
I
am
one
of
that
wandering
tribe
called
Gipsies
,
madam
,
"
was
the
answer
:
"
and
my
name
is
Morcar
.
"
"
Morcar
!
"
echoed
Eliza
.
"
Oh
!
I
have
heard
of
you
before
—
often
—
very
often
!
The
Prince
of
Montoni
speaks
of
you
as
a
friend
;
and
your
services
to
him
in
the
Castelcicalan
war
have
become
a
matter
of
history
.
"
"
Ah
!
is
it
possible
?
"
cried
Morcar
,
who
for
some
moments
had
been
studying
Eliza
's
features
with
attention
—
for
he
had
seen
many
portraits
of
her
during
his
sojourn
in
Italy
,
and
a
light
now
broke
in
upon
his
memory
:
"
is
it
possible
that
I
am
in
the
presence
of
her
to
whom
that
great
Prince
owes
his
life
?
Oh
!
madam
,
I
also
have
to
thank
your
Serene
Highness
—
humble
as
I
am
—
for
the
safety
and
freedom
which
I
experienced
after
the
defeat
at
Ossore
.
"
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
Morcar
abandoned
his
hold
upon
Gilbert
Vernon
,
and
fell
upon
his
knees
before
the
royal
widow
.
"
Rise
,
Morcar
,
"
she
hastily
exclaimed
:
"
I
have
renounced
for
ever
the
proud
title
of
Grand-Duchess
,
and
would
henceforth
be
known
as
Eliza
Sydney
.
Moreover
,
this
is
no
time
for
homage
—
even
were
I
disposed
to
receive
it
.
"
"
The
knee
of
Morcar
bows
not
to
princes
because
they
are
princes
,
"
returned
the
gipsy
,
proudly
and
yet
respectfully
;
"
but
to
men
or
women
who
by
their
virtues
deserve
such
homage
.
"
At
that
moment
a
cry
of
alarm
burst
from
the
servants
who
had
still
retained
their
hold
upon
Vernon
;
and
at
the
same
instant
this
guilty
man
sprang
furiously
from
their
grasp
—
hurled
them
violently
aside
—
and
,
ere
a
single
hand
could
stop
his
mad
career
,
rushed
to
the
window
.
Morcar
bounded
after
him
:
but
it
was
too
late
.
Gilbert
Vernon
had
precipitated
himself
from
the
balcony
!
The
sound
of
his
fall
upon
the
pavement
beneath
,
—
and
the
sound
of
a
human
being
thus
falling
has
none
other
like
it
in
the
world
,
—
struck
upon
every
ear
in
that
drawing-room
.
Some
of
the
servants
hastened
down
stairs
,
and
ran
to
the
spot
where
Vernon
