Styles.
How
are
Mrs.
Styles
and
those
dear
children
?
"
(
Mr.
Styles
was
an
old
batchelor
.
)
—
"
Ah
!
Mr.
Milksop
,
how
are
you
?
quite
delighted
to
see
you
!
Why
,
upon
my
word
,
you
are
getting
quite
stout
.
"
(
Poor
Mr.
Milksop
was
as
thin
as
a
lath
.
)
"
But
every
thing
prospers
with
you
,
I
suppose
!
—
Well
,
Mr.
Chivers
,
how
do
you
do
?
Any
thing
new
on
the
Stock-Exchange
?
I
believe
you
do
n't
suffer
much
by
this
business
of
Tomlinson
's
,
do
you
?
"
"
Only
three
thousand
—
that
's
all
!
"
returned
Mr.
Chivers
,
with
a
smile
which
would
have
turned
new
milk
sour
.
"
Oh
!
a
mere
song
!
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
,
tossing
up
his
head
.
"
Well
,
Vokes
,
are
you
here
?
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
that
you
're
wasting
your
time
in
this
manner
,
eh
?
—
Ah
!
Tullett
,
my
good
friend
—
delighted
to
see
you
.
Why
,
how
well
you
do
look
,
to
be
sure
!
"
(
Mr.
Tullett
was
in
a
rapid
decline
;
and
he
"
grinned
horribly
a
ghastly
smile
"
at
this
salutation
.
)
In
this
manner
did
Mr.
Greenwood
work
his
way
through
the
crowd
,
until
he
reached
the
desk
of
the
official
assignee
,
by
the
side
of
whom
he
took
a
seat
.
"
Where
's
the
bankrupt
?
"
exclaimed
the
clerk
of
the
court
in
a
loud
and
imperious
tone
of
voice
,
while
Mr.
Greenwood
bestowed
one
of
his
patronising
smiles
upon
the
Commissioner
.
"
Here
,
"
replied
Tomlinson
;
and
he
stood
forward
close
by
the
witness-box
.
He
was
pale
and
altered
;
and
the
marks
of
care
and
anxiety
were
visible
upon
his
countenance
.
The
glance
he
cast
around
him
,
as
he
took
his
stand
in
the
presence
of
the
Commissioner
,
was
hurried
and
fearful
:
—
he
almost
dreaded
that
the
face
of
Michael
Martin
would
meet
his
eyes
as
he
thus
hastily
scanned
the
crowd
by
whom
he
was
surrounded
.
But
his
alarm
was
without
foundation
:
the
old
cashier
was
not
there
.
The
examination
of
the
bankrupt
then
commenced
.
In
answer
to
the
questions
put
to
him
,
he
stated
that
had
he
delivered
in
to
the
assignees
as
full
and
complete
a
statement
of
his
affairs
as
the
loss
of
his
books
(
which
had
been
abstracted
by
the
cashier
at
the
time
of
the
robbery
)
would
permit
.
Mr.
Greenwood
observed
that
the
accounts
were
highly
satisfactory
,
and
would
doubtless
please
every
creditor
present
.
It
was
,
however
,
unfortunate
that
the
estate
would
not
pay
a
single
farthing
in
the
pound
.
"
Very
unfortunate
indeed
,
"
growled
a
creditor
.
"
I
would
much
rather
have
heard
that
there
was
a
dividend
,
than
that
the
accounts
are
so
very
satisfactory
,
"
murmured
another
.
"
Mr.
Tomlinson
's
creditors
cannot
complain
of
him
,
your
Honour
,
"
said
Mr.
Greenwood
to
the
Commissioner
:
"
on
the
contrary
,
they
have
every
reason
to
be
perfectly
satisfied
with
him
.
He
has
given
up
every
thing
—
"
"
Why
,
there
was
nothing
left
to
give
up
!
"
ejaculated
Mr.
Vokes
.
"
Nothing
left
to
give
up
!
"
cried
Mr.
Greenwood
,
casting
a
stern
glance
upon
the
unfortunate
creditor
;
"
permit
me
,
sir
,
as
the
trade-assignee
duly
chosen
at
the
last
meeting
—
permit
me
,
sir
,
to
inform
you
that
there
were
the
desks
,
counters
,
stools
,
and
various
fixtures
of
the
bank
—
all
of
which
Mr.
Tomlinson
surrendered
in
the
most
honourable
and
straightforward
manner
,
and
which
have
realized
a
hundred
and
eighty-one
pounds
,
seventeen
shillings
,
and
sixpence
,
for
the
benefit
of
the
estate
.
"
"
Well
—
and
what
has
become
of
that
sum
?
"
demanded
Mr.
Vokes
.
"
Consumed
by
the
expenses
of
the
fiat
,
"
answered
Mr.
Greenwood
coolly
.
"
But
,
as
I
was
observing
,
your
Honour
,
when
I
was
interrupted
—
interrupted
in
a
most
indecent
manner
—
the
position
of
Mr.
Tomlinson
is
a
most
honourable
one
—
"
"
Perhaps
it
is
even
enviable
,
"
said
the
consumptive
creditor
,
drily
.
"
And
I
for
one
,
"
added
Mr.
Greenwood
,
"
shall
certainly
sign
his
certificate
.
"
"
Have
no
tidings
been
heard
of
the
cashier
who
absconded
?
"
inquired
the
Commissioner
.
"
None
,
sir
,
"
answered
the
official
assignee
and
Mr.
Greenwood
simultaneously
.
"
What
has
become
of
the
bankrupt
's
furniture
at
his
private
residence
?
"
demanded
a
creditor
.
"
His
landlord
issued
a
distress
for
a
year
's
rent
the
moment
the
bank
stopped
,
"
answered
Greenwood
.
"
The
amount
due
to
this
most
hard-hearted
and
unfeeling
landlord
is
a
hundred
and
twenty
pounds
,
and
the
furniture
would
not
fetch
more
at
an
auction
.
I
therefore
,
with
the
full
concurrence
of
the
official
assignee
,
allowed
that
very
harsh
man
to
keep
the
goods
.
"
A
barrister
,
who
had
been
retained
for
one
of
the
creditors
,
then
proceeded
to
examine
Mr.
Tomlinson
.
"
You
allege
that
about
ninety-four
thousand
pounds
were
abstracted
from
the
bank
by
the
fugitive
cashier
?
"
"
I
do
—
or
as
nearly
as
I
can
guess
.
"
"
And
yet
,
by
this
balance-sheet
,
I
perceive
that
your
liabilities
are
two
hundred
thousand
pounds
.
Were
you
not
insolvent
when
the
robbery
was
perpetrated
?
"
"
It
would
appear
so
,
certainly
.
"
"
Then
how
do
you
account
for
that
immense
deficiency
?
"
"
I
can
account
for
it
in
no
other
manner
than
by
presuming
that
my
cashier
had
carried
on
a
systematic
mode
of
plunder
for
some
years
past
;
but
as
I
placed
implicit
reliance
on
him
,
I
was
never
led
to
an
investigation
of
my
actual
position
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
say
that
your
cashier
embezzled
many
thousand
pounds
every
year
?
"
"
I
am
afraid
that
such
was
the
fact
.
"
The
barrister
asked
no
farther
questions
.
Another
opposing
counsel
interrogated
the
bankrupt
relative
to
his
affairs
;
but
Tomlinson
's
replies
were
given
in
a
manner
which
afforded
no
scope
for
suspicion
.
Ah
!
none
divined
how
much
it
cost
that
unhappy
man
thus
to
heap
shame
and
infamy
upon
the
head
of
a
faithful
old
clerk
,
who
had
never
wronged
him
of
a
shilling
!
The
case
terminated
by
the
declaration
of
the
commissioner
that
the
bankrupt
had
passed
his
second
examination
.
Tomlinson
was
glad
to
escape
from
the
frightful
ordeal
to
which
his
feelings
had
been
subjected
for
two
mortal
hours
;
and
,
while
he
hurried
home
to
conceal
his
emotions
from
every
eye
,
and
meditate
upon
his
condition
in
private
,
Mr.
Greenwood
busied
himself
in
obtaining
signatures
for
his
certificate
.
This
was
an
easy
matter
to
a
man
of
the
financier
's
powers
of
persuasion
;
and
that
very
afternoon
the
names
of
four-fifths
of
the
bankrupt
's
creditors
were
attached
to
the
parchment
which
was
to
relieve
him
of
all
past
embarrassments
.
When
Greenwood
took
the
certificate
to
Tomlinson
in
the
evening
,
he
said
,
"
My
dear
fellow
,
you
will
soon
be
a
new
man
.
In
one-and-twenty
days
this
document
will
have
passed
the
Lord
Chancellor
and
the
Court
of
Review
,
and
be
duly
registered
in
Basinghall
Street
.
I
will
then
lend
you
a
thousand
pounds
,
at
only
twenty
per
cent
.
,
to
start
you
as
a
stock-broker
.
You
see
how
well
I
have
managed
your
business
.
You
have
passed
through
the
Court
—
and
you
have
kept
your
furniture
.
"
"
Which
I
would
have
given
up
to
my
creditors
,
had
you
permitted
me
,
"
said
Tomlinson
sorrowfully
.
"
Nonsense
,
my
dear
fellow
!
Never
give
away
what
you
can
keep
by
a
little
manœuvring
.
Your
landlord
can
now
withdraw
his
friendly
seizure
,
and
all
will
be
well
.
"
"
Nothing
will
render
me
happy
until
I
find
out
that
poor
old
man
who
has
so
nobly
,
so
generously
sacrificed
himself
for
me
,
"
observed
Tomlinson
in
a
tone
of
deep
dejection
.
"
What
can
have
become
of
him
?
"
"
Oh
!
do
not
bother
yourself
about
him
,
"
cried
Greenwood
impatiently
.
"
He
will
turn
up
one
of
these
days
;
and
then
you
can
remunerate
him
handsomely
.
"
"
Ah
!
that
would
indeed
be
a
moment
of
supreme
happiness
for
me
!
"
ejaculated
Tomlinson
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
Greenwood
,
musing
:
"
a
five-pound
note
will
recompense
the
old
fellow
well
for
his
conduct
.
"
"
A
five-pound
note
!
"
repeated
Tomlinson
.
"
Can
you
be
in
earnest
,
Greenwood
?
"
"
Well
,
if
you
think
it
is
too
much
,
give
him
a
couple
of
sovereigns
,
"
said
Greenwood
,
coolly
.
"
But
I
must
take
leave
of
you
now
:
I
am
compelled
to
devote
a
couple
of
hours
this
evening
to
the
interests
of
that
free
and
enlightened
body
whom
I
have
the
honour
to
represent
in
parliament
.
So
,
adieu
,
Tomlinson
;
and
when
your
certificate
is
registered
,
come
to
me
.
"
Mr.
Greenwood
then
took
his
departure
from
the
bankrupt
's
abode
.
"
The
heartless
villain
!
"
cried
Tomlinson
,
when
the
door
had
closed
behind
the
financier
;
then
,
after
a
long
pause
,
he
added
,
"
and
yet
his
ingenuity
has
saved
me
from
eternal
degradation
and
shame
!
"
In
the
mean
time
Count
Alteroni
returned
to
his
dwelling
at
Richmond
.
He
reached
home
at
about
five
o'clock
in
the
evening
,
and
found
his
wife
and
daughter
anxiously
awaiting
his
arrival
.
The
moment
he
entered
the
drawing-room
,
the
ladies
cast
a
timid
and
yet
inquiring
glance
towards
him
;
and
their
hearts
sank
within
them
when
their
eyes
caught
sight
of
his
severe
and
sombre
expression
of
countenance
.
"
My
dear
wife
—
my
beloved
daughter
,
"
he
said
,
advancing
towards
them
,
and
taking
the
hand
of
each
in
his
own
,
"
my
worst
fears
are
confirmed
.
The
bank
will
not
pay
one
sixpence
of
dividend
:
Greenwood
has
contrived
to
get
his
fellow-conspirator
clear
of
the
tribunal
;
and
the
creditors
have
not
a
hope
left
.
It
was
with
the
greatest
difficulty
that
I
could
so
far
master
my
feelings
as
to
avoid
an
interference
in
those
most
iniquitous
proceedings
.
But
my
position
—
my
rank
forbade
me
from
attempting
aught
to
expose
those
villains
.
And
now
,
my
dear
wife
—
now
,
my
charming
Isabella
—
prepare
yourselves
to
hear
the
worst
.
We
are
ruined
!
"
"
Ruined
!
"
exclaimed
both
the
countess
and
her
daughter
at
the
same
moment
.
"
Oh
!
no
,
"
added
Isabella
:
"
we
have
many
friends
,
my
dear
father
.
"
"
To
whom
I
will
not
apply
,
"
said
the
count
,
proudly
.
"
No
—
we
must
wrestle
with
our
evil
fortunes
,
and
trust
to
the
advent
of
better
times
.
At
present
every
thing
seems
to
conspire
to
crush
us
;
and
should
that
contemplated
marriage
take
place
in
Castelcicala
—
—
"
"
My
dearest
husband
,
"
interrupted
the
countess
,
"
do
not
aggravate
present
griefs
by
the
apprehension
of
that
which
as
yet
only
menace
us
.
It
is
scarcely
possible
that
the
Grand
Duke
will
perpetrate
such
a
folly
.
"
"
And
that
title
of
Marchioness
of
Ziani
—
and
that
pension
,
—
do
they
not
speak
volumes
?
"
cried
the
count
bitterly
.
"
Oh
!
there
are
moments
when
I
feel
inclined
to
listen
to
the
representations
of
those
faithful
friends
in
my
own
country
with
whom
I
correspond
,
and
who
are
ever
counselling
me
to
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
my
dearest
father
,
"
exclaimed
Isabella
,
bursting
into
tears
;
"
would
you
endanger
that
life
which
is
so
precious
to
my
mother
and
myself
?
would
you
plunge
your
native
land
in
the
horrors
of
a
civil
war
?
Oh
!
let
us
dare
all
our
present
ills
with
firmness
and
resolution
;
and
if
there
be
a
guardian
Providence
—
as
I
devoutly
believe
—
he
will
not
allow
us
to
be
persecuted
for
ever
!
"
"
Noble
girl
!
"
cried
the
count
;
"
you
teach
me
my
duty
;
"
—
and
he
embraced
his
lovely
daughter
with
the
utmost
warmth
and
tenderness
.
"
Yes
,
"
said
the
countess
,
fondly
pressing
her
husband
's
hand
,
"
we
are
crushed
only
for
a
time
.
Our
course
is
now
clear
:
—
we
must
give
up
our
present
establishment
;
and
—
as
we
have
,
thank
God
!
no
debts
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
it
is
that
which
cuts
me
to
the
very
soul
!
"
interrupted
the
count
.
"
You
are
not
yet
acquainted
with
the
extent
of
our
misfortunes
.
A
brave
fellow
countryman
of
mine
,
who
supported
me
in
all
the
plans
which
I
endeavoured
to
carry
out
for
the
welfare
of
the
Castelcicalans
,
and
who
was
driven
into
exile
on
my
account
,
was
imprisoned
in
London
a
few
months
ago
for
a
considerable
sum
of
money
.
I
could
not
leave
him
to
perish
in
a
gaol
.
I
became
answerable
for
him
—
and
the
creditor
is
now
pressing
me
for
the
payment
of
the
debt
.
"
"
And
what
is
the
amount
of
this
liability
?
"
inquired
the
countess
,
hastily
.
"
Eighteen
hundred
pounds
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Do
not
suffer
that
to
annoy
you
,
my
dearest
father
,
"
exclaimed
Isabella
.
"
My
jewellery
and
superfluous
wardrobe
will
produce
—
—
"
"
Alas
!
my
dearest
child
,
"
interrupted
the
count
,
"
all
that
we
possess
would
not
realize
any
thing
like
that
sum
.
But
,
happen
what
will
,
our
first
step
must
be
to
give
up
this
furnished
mansion
,
and
retire
to
a
more
humble
dwelling
.
That
will
not
cost
us
many
pangs
.
We
shall
still
be
together
;
and
our
love
for
each
other
constitutes
our
greatest
happiness
.
"
"
Yes
,
my
dearest
husband
,
"
said
the
countess
;
"
even
a
prison
should
not
separate
us
.
"
"
Where
my
beloved
father
is
—
where
my
parents
are
—
there
am
I
happy
,
"
murmured
Isabella
,
the
pearly
tears
trickling
down
her
cheeks
.
Oh
!
in
that
hour
of
his
sorrow
,
how
sweet
—
how
sweet
upon
the
ears
of
that
noble
Italian
sounded
the
words
,
"
husband
"
and
"
father
,
"
which
,
coupled
with
tender
syllables
of
consolation
,
came
from
the
lips
of
the
two
affectionate
beings
who
clung
to
him
so
fondly
.
The
lovely
countenance
of
his
daughter
—
so
beautiful
,
that
it
seemed
rather
to
belong
to
the
ethereal
inhabitants
of
heaven
than
to
a
mortal
denizen
of
earth
—
was
upturned
to
him
;
and
her
large
black
eyes
,
shining
through
her
tears
,
beamed
with
an
ineffable
expression
of
tenderness
and
filial
love
.
Charming
,
charming
Isabella
—
how
ravishing
,
how
enchanting
wast
thou
at
that
moment
when
thou
didst
offer
sweet
consolation
to
thy
father
!
The
roses
dyed
thy
cheeks
beneath
the
delicate
tinge
of
transparent
bistre
which
proclaimed
thee
a
daughter
of
the
sunny
south
;
—
thy
moist
red
lips
apart
,
disclosed
thy
teeth
white
as
the
orient
pearl
;
—
thy
young
bosom
heaved
beneath
the
gauze
which
veiled
it
;
—
purity
sat
upon
thy
lofty
brow
,
like
a
diadem
which
innocence
confers
upon
its
elect
!
Very
beautiful
wast
thou
,
Isabella
—
charming
exotic
flower
from
the
sweet
Italian
clime
!
"
Yes
,
my
beloved
wife
—
my
darling
daughter
,
"
said
the
count
;
"
we
are
ruined
by
my
mad
confidence
in
that
villain
Greenwood
.
You
know
that
there
is
one
means
by
which
I
could
obtain
wealth
and
release
us
from
this
cruel
embarrassment
.
But
never
would
either
of
you
wish
to
see
me
sell
my
claims
and
resign
my
patriotism
for
gold
!
No
—
dearest
partakers
of
my
sad
destinies
,
that
may
not
be
!
I
shall
ever
reject
the
offers
of
my
persecutors
with
scorn
;
and
until
fortune
may
choose
to
smile
upon
us
,
we
must
learn
to
support
her
frowns
with
resignation
.
"
"
That
same
Almighty
power
which
afflicts
and
chastises
,
can
also
restore
gladness
,
and
multiply
blessings
,
"
said
Isabella
,
solemnly
.
A
servant
now
entered
the
room
to
announce
that
dinner
was
served
in
another
apartment
.
Assuming
a
cheerful
air
,
the
count
led
his
wife
and
daughter
to
the
dining-room
,
and
partook
of
the
repast
with
a
forced
appetite
,
in
order
to
avoid
giving
pain
to
those
who
watched
all
his
movements
and
hung
upon
all
his
words
with
such
tender
solicitude
.
After
dinner
,
the
count
,
still
pondering
upon
the
scene
in
which
a
tender
wife
and
affectionate
daughter
had
administered
to
him
such
sweet
consolation
,
and
experiencing
a
delicious
balm
in
the
domestic
felicity
which
he
enjoyed
,
said
to
Isabella
,
"
Read
me
from
your
Album
,
my
dear
girl
,
those
lines
which
a
poet
is
supposed
to
address
to
his
wife
,
and
which
always
possess
new
charms
for
me
.
"
Isabella
hastened
to
obey
her
father
's
wishes
,
and
read
,
in
a
soft
and
silver
tone
,
the
following
stanzas
:
—
THE
POET
TO
HIS
WIFE
.
When
far
away
,
my
memory
keeps
in
view
,
Unweariedly
,
the
image
of
my
wife
;
This
tribute
of
my
gratitude
is
due
To
her
who
seems
the
angel
of
my
life
—
The
guiding
star
that
leads
me
safely
through
The
eddies
of
this
world
's
unceasing
strife
;
—
Hope
's
beacon
,
cheering
ever
from
afar
,
How
beautiful
art
thou
,
my
guiding
star
!
Our
children
have
thy
countenance
,
that
beams
With
love
for
him
who
tells
thy
virtues
now
;
—
Their
eyes
have
caught
the
heavenly
ray
which
gleams
From
thine
athwart
the
clouds
that
shade
my
brow
,
Like
sunshine
on
a
night
of
hideous
dreams
!
—
The
first
to
wean
me
from
despair
art
thou
;
For
all
th
'
endearing
sentiments
of
life
Are
summed
up
in
the
words
Children
and
Wife
.
The
mind
,
when
in
a
desert
state
,
renews
Its
strength
,
if
by
Hope
's
purest
manna
fed
;
As
drooping
flowers
revive
beneath
the
dews
Which
April
mornings
bountifully
shed
.
Mohammed
taught
(
let
none
the
faith
abuse
)
That
echoes
were
the
voices
of
the
dead
Repeating
,
in
a
far-off
realm
of
bliss
,
The
words
of
those
they
loved
and
left
in
this
.
My
well-beloved
,
should'st
thou
pass
hence
away
,
Into
another
and
a
happier
sphere
,
Ere
death
has
also
closed
my
little
day
,
And
morn
may
wake
no
more
on
my
career
,
"
I
love
thee
,
"
are
the
words
that
I
shall
say
From
hour
to
hour
,
during
my
sojourn
here
.
That
thou
in
other
realms
may'st
still
be
found
Prepared
to
echo
back
the
welcome
sound
.
Scarcely
had
Isabella
finished
these
lines
,
when
a
servant
entered
the
room
,
and
announced
a
Mr.
Johnson
,
"
who
had
some
pressing
business
to
communicate
,
and
who
was
very
sure
that
he
should
n't
be
considered
an
intruder
.
"
Mr.
Johnson
—
a
queer-looking
,
shabby-genteel
,
off-hand
kind
of
a
man
—
made
his
appearance
close
behind
the
servant
,
over
whose
shoulder
he
leered
ominously
.
"
I
b'lieve
you
're
Count
Alteroni
,
air
you
?
"
was
Mr.
Johnson
's
first
question
.
"
I
am
.
What
is
your
business
with
me
?
"
"
I
'm
come
from
Rolfe
,
the
attorney
,
in
Clements
'
Inn
,
"
was
the
reply
:
"
he
—
"
"
Oh
!
I
suppose
he
has
sent
you
to
say
that
he
will
accord
me
the
delay
I
require
?
"
interrupted
the
count
.
"
Not
quite
that
there
neither
,
"
said
the
man
;
then
,
sinking
his
voice
to
a
mysterious
whisper
,
and
glancing
towards
the
ladies
with
an
air
of
embarrassment
,
he
added
,
"
The
fact
is
,
I
've
got
a
execution
agin
your
person
—
a
ca-sa
,
you
know
,
for
eighteen
hundred
and
costs
.
"
"
A
writ
—
a
warrant
!
"
ejaculated
the
count
aloud
.
"
You
do
not
mean
to
say
that
you
are
come
to
take
me
to
prison
?
"
"
Not
exactly
that
either
,
"
replied
Mr.
Johnson
.
"
You
need
n't
go
to
quod
,
you
know
.
You
can
come
to
our
lock-up
in
the
New-Cut
,
Lambeth
,
where
you
'll
be
as
snug
as
if
you
was
in
your
own
house
,
barring
liberty
.
"
"
I
understand
you
,
"
said
the
count
;
then
,
turning
to
his
wife
and
daughter
,
he
added
,
"
My
dears
,
the
evil
moment
is
arrived
.
This
person
is
a
bailiff
come
to
arrest
me
;
and
I
must
go
with
him
.
I
implore
you
not
to
take
this
misfortune
to
heart
:
—
it
was
sure
to
happen
;
and
it
might
just
as
well
occur
to-day
as
a
week
or
a
month
hence
.
"
"
And
whither
will
they
take
you
?
"
asked
the
countess
,
bursting
into
tears
.
"
Cannot
we
be
allowed
to
accompany
you
?
"
"
You
can
come
,
ma'am
,
and
see
his
lordship
to-morrow
,
"
said
the
bailiff
;
"
and
you
can
stay
with
him
from
ten
in
the
morning
till
nine
in
the
evening
—
or
may-be
till
half-arter
ten
as
a
wery
partick'lar
faviour
—
for
which
you
'll
on'y
have
to
pay
half
a
sufferin
extray
.
But
there
's
my
man
.
"
A
sneaking
kind
of
knock
—
something
more
than
a
single
one
,
not
so
much
as
a
double
one
,
and
by
no
means
as
bold
as
a
postman
's
—
had
been
heard
the
moment
before
the
bailiff
uttered
these
last
words
;
and
while
he
went
in
person
to
inform
his
acolyte
that
the
caption
was
made
,
and
that
he
might
wait
in
the
hall
,
the
count
endeavoured
to
soothe
and
console
the
two
afflicted
ladies
who
now
clung
to
him
in
the
most
impassioned
and
distracted
manner
.
"
To-morrow
,
my
dear
father
—
to-morrow
,
the
moment
the
clock
strikes
ten
,
we
will
be
with
you
,
"
said
Isabella
.
"
Oh
!
how
miserably
will
pass
the
hours
until
that
period
!
"
"
Will
you
not
now
permit
me
,
my
dearest
husband
,
to
see
the
Envoy
of
Castelcicala
,
and
—
"
"
No
,
"
answered
the
count
firmly
.
"
Did
we
not
agree
ere
now
to
support
with
resignation
all
that
fortune
might
have
in
store
for
us
?
"
"
Ah
!
pardon
me
—
I
forgot
,
"
said
the
countess
.
"
I
am
overwhelmed
with
grief
.
Oh
!
what
a
blow
—
and
for
you
!
"
"
Show
yourselves
worthy
of
your
high
rank
and
proud
name
,
"
cried
the
nobleman
;
"
and
all
will
yet
be
well
.
"
At
this
moment
the
bailiff
returned
to
the
room
.
"
I
am
now
ready
to
accompany
you
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
So
much
the
better
,
"
cried
Mr.
Johnson
.
"
Me
and
my
man
Tim
Bunkins
come
down
in
a
omnibus
;
I
do
n't
know
which
vay
you
'd
like
to
go
,
but
I
've
heerd
say
you
keeps
a
wery
tidy
cabrioily
.
"
"
It
would
be
a
monstrous
mockery
for
any
one
to
proceed
to
a
prison
in
his
own
luxurious
vehicle
,
"
said
the
count
sternly
.
"
As
you
came
,
so
may
you
return
.
I
will
accompany
you
in
an
omnibus
.
"
The
count
embraced
his
wife
and
daughter
tenderly
,
and
with
much
difficulty
tore
himself
away
,
in
order
to
leave
a
comfortable
home
for
a
miserable
sponging-house
.
CHAPTER
LXXXV
.
A
FRIEND
IN
NEED
.
TEN
days
after
the
arrest
of
Count
Alteroni
,
a
young
lady
was
proceeding
,
at
about
eleven
o'clock
in
the
forenoon
,
down
the
Blackfriars
Road
.
She
was
dressed
plainly
,
but
with
that
exquisite
taste
which
denotes
a
polished
mind
,
and
is
in
itself
an
aristocracy
of
sentiment
.
She
looked
neither
to
the
right
nor
to
the
left
:
her
pace
was
somewhat
rapid
,
as
if
she
were
anxious
to
arrive
at
her
destination
:
—
and
though
there
was
something
timid
in
her
manner
as
she
threaded
her
way
along
the
crowded
thoroughfare
,
few
who
passed
her
could
help
turning
round
to
obtain
another
glimpse
of
the
sylph-like
form
of
that
unassuming
girl
.
From
the
opposite
direction
advanced
a
young
man
of
tall
and
handsome
appearance
,
neatly
dressed
,
and
with
a
shade
of
melancholy
upon
his
countenance
.
In
a
few
moments
he
met
the
young
lady
,
and
was
about
to
pass
her
,
when
his
eyes
happened
to
catch
a
glimpse
of
her
lovely
features
.
He
started
with
surprise
,
exclaiming
,
"
Signora
!
is
it
possible
?
Do
we
indeed
meet
again
?
Ah
!
it
seems
to
me
that
it
is
an
age
since
I
saw
you
,
dearest
Isabella
!
"
"
And
since
we
last
met
,
Richard
,
many
unfortunate
events
have
happened
.
My
poor
father
—
"
"
Your
father
!
what
can
have
happened
to
him
?
"
cried
Markham
,
struck
by
the
mournful
tone
of
the
beauteous
Italian
.
"
He
is
in
the
Queen
's
Bench
Prison
,
"
replied
Isabella
,
her
eyes
filling
with
tears
.
"
In
the
Queen
's
Bench
!
And
you
are
going
to
him
now
?
Oh
!
Isabella
,
you
must
tell
me
how
all
this
happened
:
I
will
escort
you
a
little
way
;
"
—
and
with
these
words
,
Richard
offered
his
arm
to
the
signora
,
who
accepted
it
with
a
ready
confidence
in
him
whom
she
loved
,
and
whose
presence
was
by
no
means
displeasing
to
her
at
that
moment
when
she
stood
so
much
in
need
of
consolation
.
"
You
are
aware
,
"
resumed
Isabella
,
"
that
my
father
intrusted
a
considerable
sum
of
money
to
Mr.
Greenwood
.
"
"
The
villain
!
"
ejaculated
Markham
warmly
.
"
I
cannot
explain
to
you
exactly
how
it
was
that
my
father
accepted
the
security
of
Mr.
Tomlinson
,
the
banker
,
for
that
amount
,
as
I
am
not
acquainted
with
matters
of
business
;
—
but
he
did
so
,
and
released
Mr.
Greenwood
.
"
"
And
Tomlinson
failed
—
and
your
father
lost
all
!
"
"
Alas
!
he
did
;
—
and
he
is
now
imprisoned
for
a
sum
for
which
he
had
become
answerable
to
serve
a
friend
,
"
said
Isabella
.
"
How
long
has
the
count
been
in
—
in
—
"
"
In
prison
,
"
added
the
signora
mournfully
.
"
He
was
arrested
ten
days
ago
;
and
,
by
the
advice
of
a
solicitor
,
he
removed
on
the
following
day
from
the
bailiff
's
private
house
to
the
Bench
.
"
"
And
the
countess
?
"
"
My
mother
is
very
unwell
to-day
,
and
could
not
leave
her
room
;
and
I
am
now
on
my
way
to
visit
my
poor
father
.
We
have
left
Richmond
altogether
;
and
my
mother
and
myself
occupy
lodgings
in
the
Blackfriars
Road
,
near
the
bridge
.
"
"
Ten
days
ago
this
happened
,
Isabella
,
"
said
Richard
reproachfully
;
"
and
you
did
not
acquaint
me
with
what
had
occurred
?
"
"
Ah
!
Richard
—
you
know
well
that
circumstances
forbade
me
;
—
or
else
—
"
"
Or
else
?
Speak
—
dearest
Isabella
.
"
"
Or
else
I
believe
you
would
have
given
my
father
the
best
advice
how
to
proceed
.
He
is
too
proud
to
apply
to
his
friends
;
and
he
cannot
—
he
must
not
remain
in
prison
.
His
health
would
sink
under
the
idea
of
degradation
that
has
taken
possession
of
him
.
"
"
That
villain
Greenwood
!
"
said
Markham
,
musing
.
"
When
will
the
day
of
retribution
arrive
for
him
?
"
"
We
must
now
part
,
Richard
,
"
observed
Isabella
,
as
they
came
in
view
of
the
dingy
wall
of
the
Queen
's
Bench
Prison
,
crowned
by
chevaux-de-frise
.
"
Yes
—
we
must
part
again
,
"
said
Markham
mournfully
.
"
But
how
happy
should
I
have
been
had
we
met
this
morning
under
other
circumstances
!
How
I
should
have
blessed
the
accident
that
brought
me
thus
early
this
morning
on
some
business
of
my
own
,
to
this
neighbourhood
!
Oh
!
Isabella
,
you
know
not
how
constantly
I
think
of
you
—
how
unceasingly
I
dwell
upon
your
dear
image
!
"
"
And
can
you
suppose
,
Richard
,
that
I
never
devote
a
thought
to
you
?
"
said
Isabella
,
in
a
low
and
plaintive
tone
.
"
But
we
must
not
talk
upon
such
a
subject
at
present
.
Let
us
hope
for
happier
times
.
"
With
these
words
the
young
lady
returned
the
pressure
of
her
lover
's
hand
,
and
hurried
towards
the
Queen
's
Bench
.
Markham
loitered
about
the
spot
for
five
minutes
,
and
then
proceeded
to
the
lobby
of
the
prison
.
There
he
inquired
into
the
particulars
of
Count
Alteroni
's
detention
;
and
ascertained
that
he
had
been
arrested
for
eighteen
hundred
pounds
,
with
costs
.
He
then
left
the
gloomy
precincts
of
the
debtors
'
gaol
,
and
retraced
his
steps
towards
the
City
.
"
Eighteen
hundred
pounds
would
procure
the
count
's
liberation
,
"
he
said
to
himself
:
"
eighteen
hundred
pounds
,
which
he
does
not
possess
,
and
which
he
is
too
proud
to
borrow
,
—
eighteen
hundred
pounds
,
which
would
restore
him
to
his
family
,
and
make
Isabella
happy
!
My
property
is
worth
four
thousand
pounds
:
—
if
I
raise
two
thousand
pounds
upon
it
,
I
shall
curtail
my
income
by
exactly
one
half
.
I
shall
have
one
hundred
pounds
a-year
remaining
.
But
my
education
was
good
—
my
acquirements
are
not
contemptible
:
surely
I
can
turn
them
to
some
account
?
"
Then
it
suddenly
struck
him
that
he
had
already
raised
five
hundred
pounds
upon
his
estate
at
the
period
when
the
Resurrection
Man
endeavoured
to
extort
that
sum
from
him
;
and
half
of
this
sum
had
already
disappeared
in
consequence
of
the
amount
given
to
Talbot
(
alias
Pocock
)
in
the
Dark-House
—
the
assistance
rendered
to
Monroe
and
Ellen
—
his
journey
to
Boulogne
—
and
other
claims
.
Then
there
would
be
the
expenses
of
deeds
to
reckon
.
If
he
raised
two
thousand
pounds
more
,
his
property
would
only
remain
worth
to
him
about
fifteen
hundred
pounds
.
His
income
would
therefore
be
reduced
to
seventy-five
pounds
per
annum
.
But
not
for
one
moment
did
this
noble-hearted
young
man
hesitate
relative
to
the
course
he
should
pursue
;
and
without
delay
he
proceeded
to
the
office
of
Mr.
Dyson
,
his
solicitor
,
in
the
City
.
There
the
business
was
speedily
explained
and
put
in
train
.
It
would
,
however
,
require
,
said
the
solicitor
,
four
days
to
terminate
the
affair
;
but
Markham
did
not
leave
him
until
he
had
fixed
the
precise
moment
when
the
deeds
were
to
be
signed
and
the
money
paid
over
.
Richard
returned
home
in
a
state
of
mind
more
truly
happy
than
he
had
known
for
some
time
past
.
He
had
resolved
upon
an
immense
sacrifice
,
to
benefit
those
whom
he
esteemed
or
loved
;
and
he
was
prepared
to
meet
any
consequences
which
it
might
produce
.
This
is
human
nature
.
We
may
inure
ourselves
to
the
contemplation
of
any
idea
,
however
appalling
or
alarming
it
may
appear
at
first
sight
,
without
a
shudder
and
almost
without
a
regret
.
The
convict
,
under
sentence
of
death
in
the
condemned
cell
,
and
his
ears
ringing
with
the
din
of
the
hammers
erecting
the
scaffold
,
does
not
experience
such
acute
mental
agony
as
the
world
are
apt
to
suppose
.
We
all
have
the
certainty
of
death
,
at
some
date
more
or
less
near
,
before
our
eyes
;
and
yet
this
conviction
does
not
trouble
our
mental
equanimity
.
The
convict
who
is
doomed
to
die
,
is
only
worse
off
than
ourselves
inasmuch
as
the
precise
day
,
hour
,
and
moment
of
his
fate
are
revealed
to
him
;
but
his
death
,
which
is
to
be
sudden
and
only
of
a
moment
's
pain
,
must
be
a
thousand
times
preferable
to
the
long
,
lingering
,
agonising
throes
of
sickness
which
many
of
those
who
pity
him
are
eventually
doomed
to
endure
before
their
thread
of
existence
shall
be
severed
for
ever
!
Yes
—
we
can
bring
our
minds
to
meet
every
species
of
mortal
affliction
with
resignation
,
and
even
with
cheerfulness
;
—
and
there
is
no
sorrow
,
no
malady
,
no
pang
,
which
issued
from
Pandora
's
box
,
that
did
not
bear
the
imprint
of
hope
along
with
it
!
True
to
the
appointed
time
,
Richard
proceeded
to
the
office
of
Mr.
Dyson
,
on
the
fourth
day
from
the
commencement
of
the
business
.
He
signed
the
papers
and
received
two
thousand
pounds
.
The
lawyer
shook
his
head
,
implying
his
fears
that
his
client
was
improvident
and
wasteful
.
He
was
,
however
,
speedily
undeceived
.
"
Will
you
have
the
kindness
to
accompany
me
in
a
cab
?
"
said
Markham
.
"
You
can
render
me
a
service
in
the
way
in
which
I
am
about
to
dispose
of
this
money
.
"
"
Certainly
,
"
returned
Mr.
Dyson
,
"
Are
you
going
far
?
"
"
Not
very
,
"
answered
Richard
;
and
when
they
were
both
seated
in
the
vehicle
,
he
told
the
driver
to
proceed
towards
the
Queen
's
Bench
Prison
,
but
to
stop
at
some
distance
from
the
gates
.
These
directions
were
obeyed
.
"
Now
,
Mr.
Dyson
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
will
you
have
the
kindness
to
repair
to
the
office
of
the
prison
,
and
inquire
the
amount
of
debts
for
which
a
certain
Count
Alteroni
is
detained
in
custody
?
"
Mr.
Dyson
obeyed
the
instructions
thus
given
to
him
,
and
in
ten
minutes
returned
from
the
prison
with
a
copy
of
causes
in
his
hand
.
"
Count
Alteroni
is
a
prisoner
for
eighteen
hundred
and
twenty-one
pounds
,
"
said
the
lawyer
.
"
Are
there
any
fees
or
extra
expenses
beyond
the
sum
specified
in
that
paper
?
"
asked
Richard
.
"
Yes
—
merely
a
few
shillings
,
"
replied
the
solicitor
.
"
I
wish
,
then
,
that
every
liability
of
Count
Alteroni
be
settled
in
such
a
way
that
he
may
quit
the
prison
without
being
asked
for
a
single
shilling
.
Here
is
the
necessary
amount
:
pay
all
that
is
due
—
and
pay
liberally
.
"
"
My
dear
sir
,
"
said
the
lawyer
,
hesitating
,
"
I
hope
you
have
well
reflected
upon
what
you
are
about
to
do
.
"
"
Yes
—
yes
,
"
answered
Richard
impatiently
:
"
I
have
well
reflected
,
I
can
assure
you
.
"
"
Two
thousand
pounds
—
or
nearly
so
—
is
a
large
sum
,
Mr.
Markham
.
"
"
I
have
weighed
all
the
consequences
.
"
"
At
least
,
then
,
you
have
received
ample
security
—
"
"
Not
a
scrap
of
paper
.
"
"
Had
I
not
better
call
and
see
this
nobleman
,
and
obtain
from
him
a
warrant
of
attorney
or
cognovit
—
"
"
So
far
from
doing
any
such
thing
,
"
interrupted
Markham
,
"
you
must
take
especial
care
not
to
mention
to
a
soul
the
name
of
the
person
who
has
employed
you
to
effect
the
count
's
release
—
not
a
syllable
must
escape
your
lips
on
this
head
;
nor
need
you
acquaint
the
clerks
whom
you
may
see
,
with
your
own
name
.
In
a
word
,
the
affair
must
be
buried
in
profound
mystery
.
"
"
Since
you
are
determined
,
"
said
Mr.
Dyson
,
"
I
will
obey
your
instructions
to
the
very
letter
.
But
,
once
again
,
excuse
me
if
I
request
you
to
reflect
whether
—
"
"
My
dear
sir
,
I
have
nothing
more
to
reflect
upon
;
and
you
will
oblige
me
by
terminating
this
business
as
speedily
as
possible
.
"
The
solicitor
returned
to
the
prison
;
and
Markham
,
whom
he
now
considered
to
be
foolish
or
mad
,
instead
of
improvident
and
extravagant
,
threw
himself
back
in
the
vehicle
,
and
gave
way
to
his
reflections
.
His
eyes
were
,
however
,
turned
towards
the
road
leading
to
the
Bench
;
for
he
was
anxious
to
watch
for
the
re-appearance
of
his
agent
.
Ten
minutes
had
elapsed
,
when
his
attention
was
directed
to
two
ladies
who
passed
by
the
cab
,
and
advanced
towards
the
prison-gate
.
He
leant
forward
—
he
could
not
be
mistaken
:
—
no
—
it
was
indeed
she
—
the
idol
of
his
adoration
—
the
being
whom
he
loved
with
a
species
of
worship
!
She
was
walking
with
the
countess
.
They
were
on
their
way
to
visit
the
count
in
his
confinement
;
but
Richard
could
not
catch
a
glimpse
of
their
countenances
—
though
he
divined
full
well
that
they
wore
not
an
expression
of
joy
.
It
was
not
,
however
,
necessary
for
him
to
behold
Isabella
's
face
,
in
order
to
recognise
her
:
—
he
knew
her
by
her
symmetrical
form
,
the
elegant
contours
of
which
,
even
the
ample
shawl
she
wore
could
not
hide
:
he
knew
her
by
her
step
—
by
her
graceful
and
dignified
gesture
—
by
her
lady-like
,
and
yet
unassuming
gait
.
Oh
!
how
speedily
,
thought
he
within
himself
,
were
she
and
her
parents
to
be
restored
to
happiness
again
!
In
about
a
quarter
of
an
hour
after
the
ladies
had
entered
the
prison
,
Dyson
returned
to
his
client
.
"
Is
it
all
settled
?
"
demanded
Markham
.
"
Every
thing
,
"
answered
the
lawyer
.
"
And
when
can
the
count
leave
the
prison
?
"
"
Almost
immediately
,
"
replied
Dyson
,
as
he
entered
the
vehicle
once
more
.
Markham
then
ordered
the
driver
to
return
to
the
City
.
In
the
mean
time
the
countess
and
Isabella
repaired
to
the
room
which
the
noble
exile
occupied
in
the
prison
.
As
they
ascended
the
steep
stone
staircase
which
led
to
it
,
they
wondered
within
themselves
when
he
whom
they
loved
so
tenderly
would
be
restored
in
freedom
to
them
.
The
count
was
seated
at
a
table
covered
with
books
and
papers
,
and
was
busily
occupied
in
arranging
the
latter
when
the
countess
and
signora
entered
the
room
.
They
were
instantly
welcomed
with
the
most
affectionate
warmth
by
the
noble
prisoner
:
and
he
endeavoured
to
assume
a
cheerful
air
in
their
presence
.
"
Any
letters
?
"
said
the
count
,
after
the
usual
inquiries
concerning
health
and
comfort
.
"
None
this
morning
,
"
answered
the
countess
.
"
And
now
,
my
dear
husband
,
tell
me
—
have
you
settled
any
plan
to
effect
your
release
?
"
"
No
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
I
must
trust
to
events
.
Were
Armstrong
alive
,
I
should
not
hesitate
to
accept
a
loan
from
him
;
—
but
to
none
other
would
I
apply
.
"
At
this
moment
a
knock
at
the
door
of
the
prison
chamber
was
heard
;
and
the
two
inseparables
,
Captain
Smilax
Dapper
and
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
,
made
their
appearance
.
"
My
dear
count
,
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
that
it
is
really
true
,
and
that
you
are
here
on
your
own
account
—
strike
me
!
"
ejaculated
the
gallant
hussar
.
"
The
newth
wath
twue
—
too
twue
,
you
thee
,
Thmilackth
,
"
said
Sir
Cherry
,
shuddering
visibly
,
and
without
any
affectation
too
as
he
glanced
around
him
.
"
True
indeed
!
"
cried
the
count
,
bitterly
.
"
I
wonder
whether
they
will
let
uth
out
again
?
"
said
Sir
Cherry
,
gazing
from
the
window
.
"
But
,
I
declare
,
they
have
got
wacket-gwoundth
here
,
and
no
leth
than
thwee
pumpth
.
What
can
the
pwithonerth
want
with
tho
muth
water
?
"
"
What
,
indeed
—
confound
me
!
"
exclaimed
the
captain
.
"
For
my
part
,
I
always
heard
that
they
lived
upon
beer
.
But
tell
me
—
how
much
is
there
against
you
?
"
"
Yeth
—
how
muth
?
"
echoed
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
.
"
A
mere
trifle
,
"
answered
the
count
evasively
.
"
I
have
been
cruelly
robbed
,
and
my
present
position
is
the
result
.
"
"
Well
,
"
continued
the
captain
,
with
remarkable
embarrassment
of
manner
,
"
we
are
all
here
together
—
and
so
there
is
no
harm
in
speaking
openly
,
you
know
—
and
Cherry
is
n't
anybody
,
strike
him
!
—
I
was
thinking
that
a
very
satisfactory
arrangement
might
be
made
.
Always
strike
when
the
iron
's
hot
!
I
have
long
entertained
a
high
respect
for
your
family
,
count
:
my
late
uncle
,
the
general
,
who
introduced
me
and
Cherry
to
you
,
always
spoke
in
the
best
possible
terms
of
you
,
although
he
never
said
much
about
your
past
life
,
and
even
hinted
that
there
was
some
mystery
—
"
"
To
what
is
all
this
to
lead
,
Captain
Dapper
?
"
exclaimed
the
count
,
somewhat
impatiently
.
"
Simply
that
—
why
do
you
stand
there
,
laughing
like
a
fool
,
Cherry
?
"
"
Me
,
Thmilackth
?
"
"
Yes
—
you
.
Well
,
as
I
was
saying
when
Cherry
interrupted
me
—
I
have
always
entertained
the
highest
possible
opinion
of
your
family
,
count
,
and
especially
of
the
signora
;
and
if
she
would
accept
my
hand
and
heart
—
why
,
strike
me
!
an
arrangement
could
be
made
in
four
and
twenty
hours
—
"
"
Captain
Dapper
,
"
interrupted
the
count
,
"
no
more
of
this
.
I
believe
that
you
would
not
wantonly
insult
either
my
daughter
or
myself
;
but
I
cannot
listen
to
the
terms
to
which
you
allude
.
"
"
My
dear
count
—
"
"
Silence
,
sir
!
No
more
of
this
!
"
exclaimed
the
noble
Italian
.
There
was
a
pause
,
which
was
broken
by
the
entrance
of
one
of
the
turnkeys
.
"
Sir
,
I
have
the
pleasure
to
inform
you
that
you
are
discharged
,
"
said
that
functionary
.
"
Discharged
!
"
ejaculated
the
count
:
"
impossible
!
How
could
I
be
discharged
?
"
The
countess
and
Isabella
surveyed
the
turnkey
with
looks
of
the
most
intense
and
painful
anxiety
.
"
A
stranger
has
sent
his
solicitor
to
pay
every
thing
against
you
at
the
gate
;
and
all
the
fees
and
the
little
donations
to
us
and
the
criers
are
paid
also
.
"
"
You
are
bantering
me
,
sirrah
!
"
cried
the
count
.
"
You
are
mistaken
.
The
Envoy
from
my
native
land
,
who
alone
of
all
my
acquaintances
is
capable
of
doing
an
action
of
this
generous
nature
,
and
in
so
delicate
a
manner
,
has
been
absent
from
London
for
the
last
ten
days
,
and
is
even
unaware
of
my
situation
.
Who
then
could
have
paid
my
debts
?
"
A
name
trembled
upon
Isabella
's
tongue
;
but
the
word
died
upon
her
lips
.
She
dared
not
pronounce
that
name
—
although
her
heart
told
her
that
her
surmise
was
correct
,
and
that
Richard
Markham
was
the
secret
friend
to
whom
her
father
was
indebted
for
his
liberty
.
Richard
!
the
reward
of
thy
good
deed
had
already
commenced
by
the
feelings
which
now
changed
the
love
that
the
beauteous
girl
had
hitherto
experienced
for
thee
,
into
an
adoration
and
a
worship
!
"
Well
,
sir
,
"
said
the
turnkey
,
"
we
do
n't
know
who
has
done
this
,
and
it
was
n't
our
business
to
inquire
.
All
I
can
say
is
,
that
the
debt
is
paid
,
the
fees
settled
,
and
you
may
leave
the
place
as
soon
as
you
like
.
"
"
Dapper
,
this
is
your
doing
,
"
cried
the
count
,
after
a
moment
's
pause
.
"
And
yet
—
"
"
No
—
strike
me
!
—
I
had
nothing
to
do
with
it
—
I
wish
I
had
now
.
"
We
shall
not
attempt
to
describe
the
delight
of
the
Italian
family
,
when
they
found
that
the
joyful
tidings
were
indeed
true
;
but
all
the
count
's
conjectures
,
to
fix
this
generous
and
noble
deed
upon
any
particular
member
of
his
acquaintance
,
were
alike
unsatisfactory
and
unavailing
:
—
Isabella
alone
divined
the
truth
.
CHAPTER
LXXXVI
.
THE
OLD
HAG
.
MARKHAM
was
not
the
man
to
remain
idle
now
that
his
circumstances
were
so
desperately
reduced
.
He
had
a
taste
for
literary
pursuits
,
and
he
resolved
to
devote
his
talents
to
some
advantage
.
His
income
was
totally
insufficient
to
support
his
establishment
,
and
yet
he
knew
not
how
to
effect
any
very
great
economy
in
the
mode
of
conducting
it
.
He
would
not
for
worlds
allow
Mr.
Monroe
and
Ellen
to
leave
his
house
,
and
again
enter
upon
a
struggle
with
the
world
.
With
Whittingham
nothing
could
have
induced
him
to
part
;
—
Marian
was
the
only
female
domestic
he
kept
,
and
he
could
not
dispense
with
her
services
.
Holford
alone
was
an
incumbrance
of
which
he
thought
of
relieving
himself
.
But
before
he
adopted
any
measure
of
economical
reform
,
he
summoned
the
faithful
Whittingham
to
a
consultation
with
him
in
the
library
.
When
Markham
had
made
the
butler
acquainted
with
his
altered
circumstances
,
the
old
man
shook
his
head
,
and
observed
—
"
Well
,
Master
Richard
,
all
this
here
ruination
—
and
when
I
make
use
of
the
paragraph
ruination
,
I
mean
to
express
the
common
sentence
,
flooring
—
has
been
brought
round
about
by
your
over
generosity
,
and
good
disposition
towards
others
.
I
ca
n't
a-bear
,
Master
Richard
,
to
see
you
circumlocuted
and
circumwented
in
this
manner
;
and
now
all
your
property
has
gone
to
the
canine
species
—
or
,
wulgarly
speaking
,
to
the
dogs
.
"
"
What
is
done
,
is
done
,
Whittingham
,
"
said
Richard
;
"
nor
did
I
send
for
you
to
criticise
my
conduct
.
"
"
Ah
!
Master
Richard
;
do
n't
go
for
to
scold
me
—
me
that
saw
you
bred
and
born
,
"
exclaimed
the
old
butler
,
tears
starting
into
his
eyes
.
"
I
would
n't
be
an
ominous
burden
to
you
for
all
the
world
;
so
I
'll
get
employment
somewhere
else
—
"
"
No
—
no
,
my
faithful
friend
,
"
cried
Richard
,
taking
the
old
man
's
hand
,
"
I
would
not
allow
you
to
leave
me
on
any
account
.
As
long
as
I
have
a
crust
you
shall
share
it
.
My
present
object
is
to
acquaint
you
with
the
necessity
of
introducing
the
most
rigid
economy
into
our
household
.
"
"
Ah
!
now
I
understand
you
,
Master
Richard
.
And
talking
of
this
reminds
me
that
a
gentleman
in
the
neighbourhood
requires
a
young
youth
of
the
nature
of
Holford
;
and
so
the
lad
might
step
quite
permiscuous
,
as
the
saying
is
,
into
a
good
situation
at
once
.
"
"
Well
,
let
him
seek
for
another
place
,
Whittingham
;
but
tell
him
that
he
may
stay
here
until
he
can
succeed
in
finding
one
.
"
Markham
and
Whittingham
then
arranged
other
little
methods
of
economy
,
and
the
debate
terminated
.
Fortunately
for
these
plans
,
Holford
procured
the
place
alluded
to
by
Whittingham
,
and
repaired
to
his
new
situation
in
the
course
of
a
few
days
.
Notwithstanding
the
solicitude
with
which
Markham
endeavoured
to
conceal
his
altered
circumstances
from
Mr.
Monroe
and
Ellen
,
the
quick
perception
of
the
latter
soon
enabled
her
to
penetrate
into
the
real
truth
;
and
she
immediately
reflected
upon
the
best
means
of
turning
her
own
acquirements
to
some
good
purpose
.
She
did
not
mention
to
her
father
her
suspicion
that
they
were
a
burden
upon
Markham
's
resources
;
but
she
took
an
early
opportunity
of
hinting
to
Richard
her
anxiety
to
avail
herself
of
her
education
and
accomplishments
,
in
order
to
add
to
the
general
resources
of
the
household
.
The
young
man
was
struck
by
the
delicate
manner
in
which
she
thus
made
him
comprehend
that
she
was
not
blind
to
the
limited
nature
of
his
means
;
but
he
assured
her
that
his
property
was
quite
commensurate
with
his
expenditure
.
Ellen
appeared
to
be
satisfied
;
but
she
nevertheless
determined
within
herself
to
lose
no
time
in
seeking
for
profitable
employment
for
her
leisure
hours
.
But
where
was
she
to
seek
for
occupation
?
She
knew
the
miserable
rate
at
which
the
labours
of
the
needle-women
were
paid
;
and
she
shuddered
at
the
idea
of
returning
to
the
service
of
a
statuary
,
an
artist
,
a
sculptor
,
or
a
photographer
.
And
yet
she
was
resolved
not
to
remain
idle
.
She
could
not
bear
the
thought
that
her
father
and
herself
were
a
burden
upon
the
slender
resources
of
their
generous
and
noble-hearted
benefactor
:
—
she
saw
with
pain
that
while
Markham
forced
her
father
to
partake
of
his
wine
as
usual
,
he
himself
now
invariably
invented
an
excuse
to
avoid
joining
in
the
indulgence
;
—
she
saw
that
Richard
rose
earlier
than
heretofore
,
and
remained
in
his
library
the
greater
portion
of
the
day
;
—
she
learned
from
Marian
that
the
surplus
garden
produce
was
sold
;
—
in
a
word
,
she
beheld
a
system
of
the
most
rigid
economy
introduced
into
the
establishment
,
and
which
was
only
relaxed
on
behalf
of
her
father
and
herself
.
All
this
gave
her
pain
;
and
she
was
resolved
to
do
somewhat
to
enable
her
to
contribute
towards
the
resources
of
the
household
—
even
though
she
should
be
compelled
to
return
to
the
service
of
a
statuary
,
an
artist
,
a
sculptor
,
or
a
photographer
.
At
one
moment
she
thought
of
applying
to
Greenwood
:
—
but
he
had
already
done
all
she
asked
in
respect
to
their
child
.
And
then
,
even
if
she
were
to
obtain
money
from
him
,
in
what
manner
could
she
account
to
her
father
and
to
Markham
for
its
possession
?
for
there
was
a
secret
—
a
terrible
secret
connected
with
Greenwood
,
which
she
dared
not
reveal
—
even
though
such
confession
were
to
save
her
from
a
death
of
lingering
tortures
!
Thus
thought
Ellen
Monroe
.
Was
it
extraordinary
if
the
idea
of
applying
to
the
old
hag
—
that
nameless
woman
—
dwelling
in
a
nameless
court
in
Golden
Lane
,
and
exercising
a
nameless
avocation
—
often
entered
the
young
lady
's
imagination
?
Was
it
strange
that
she
should
gradually
overcome
her
repugnance
to
seek
the
presence
of
the
filthy-souled
harridan
,
and
at
length
look
upon
such
a
step
as
the
only
means
through
which
her
ardent
desire
to
obtain
employment
could
be
gratified
?
It
was
decided
!
she
would
go
.
Accordingly
,
one
morning
,
she
dressed
herself
in
the
most
simple
manner
,
and
proceeded
by
an
omnibus
into
the
City
.
It
was
mid-day
when
she
reached
Golden
Lane
.
With
what
strange
feelings
did
she
proceed
along
the
narrow
and
dirty
thoroughfare
!
Pure
and
spotless
was
she
when
,
nearly
three
years
back
,
she
had
first
set
foot
in
that
vile
lane
;
—
how
much
had
she
seen
—
how
much
passed
through
—
how
much
endured
since
that
period
?
Dishonoured
—
unwedded
—
she
was
a
mother
.
Her
virgin
purity
was
gone
for
ever
—
the
evidence
of
her
shame
was
living
,
and
could
at
any
moment
be
brought
forward
to
betray
her
.
And
if
she
now
pursued
a
virtuous
course
,
it
was
scarcely
for
virtue
's
sake
,
but
through
dread
of
the
consequences
of
a
fresh
fault
.
The
innate
chastity
of
her
soul
had
dissolved
,
like
snow
before
the
mid-day
sun
's
effulgence
,
beneath
the
glances
of
the
statuary
,
the
artist
,
the
sculptor
,
and
the
photographer
.
It
was
true
that
she
looked
upon
her
services
to
those
masters
with
disgust
;
but
the
feeling
had
little
reference
to
pure
and
unadulterated
feminine
modesty
.
Still
she
was
of
a
proud
spirit
in
one
respect
;
—
she
detested
a
life
of
slothful
dependence
upon
an
individual
who
had
not
enough
for
himself
!
Such
was
Ellen
Monroe
when
she
retraced
her
way
,
on
the
present
occasion
,
to
the
dwelling
of
the
old
hag
—
that
way
which
had
led
her
to
so
frightful
a
precipice
before
!
The
old
woman
was
sitting
in
her
great
easy
chair
,
watching
the
steam
that
rose
from
a
large
saucepan
upon
the
hob
.
That
saucepan
contained
the
harridan
's
dinner
—
tripe
and
cow-heel
stewing
with
onions
,
and
filling
the
close
apartment
with
a
sickly
odour
.
But
the
hag
savoured
that
smell
with
a
hideous
expression
of
delight
;
to
her
nostrils
it
was
a
delicious
perfume
.
From
time
to
time
she
glanced
—
almost
impatiently
—
towards
her
Dutch
clock
,
as
if
anxious
for
the
arrival
of
the
happy
moment
when
she
might
serve
up
her
mess
.
She
was
just
spreading
a
filthy
napkin
upon
one
corner
of
her
table
,
when
a
knock
was
heard
at
her
door
.
Instead
of
inviting
the
visitor
,
whoever
it
might
be
,
to
enter
,
the
hag
hastened
to
answer
the
summons
by
opening
the
door
a
few
inches
.
She
was
already
afraid
that
some
poor
neighbour
might
seek
a
portion
of
her
dainty
meal
!
But
when
she
recognised
Ellen
Monroe
,
a
gleam
of
joy
suddenly
illumined
her
lowering
countenance
,
and
the
young
lady
immediately
obtained
admittance
,
for
the
hag
thought
within
herself
—
"
There
is
gold
yet
to
be
gained
by
her
!
"
Re-assured
as
to
the
undivided
enjoyment
of
the
stew
,
and
having
satisfied
herself
with
a
glance
that
Ellen
was
above
immediate
want
,
the
old
woman
conducted
her
fair
visitant
to
a
seat
,
saying
—
"
My
bird
of
beauty
,
you
have
come
back
to
me
again
;
I
have
been
waiting
for
your
return
a
long
long
time
.
"
"
Waiting
for
me
?
"
cried
Ellen
,
with
surprise
.
"
Yes
,
miss
—
certainly
.
I
know
the
world
—
and
I
felt
convinced
that
you
could
not
always
contrive
for
yourself
,
without
me
.
"
"
I
am
at
a
loss
to
understand
you
,
"
said
Ellen
.
"
Well
—
well
,
no
matter
!
"
exclaimed
the
hag
,
lifting
off
the
lid
of
her
saucepan
,
and
ogling
the
stew
.
"
At
all
events
,
"
she
continued
,
after
a
pause
,
"
you
require
my
services
now
—
else
why
are
you
come
?
"
"
Yes
—
I
require
your
services
,
"
answered
the
young
lady
.
"
I
want
employment
—
can
you
tell
me
of
any
thing
likely
to
suit
me
?
"
"
In
what
way
?
"
demanded
the
hag
,
with
an
impudent
leer
.
Ellen
remained
silent
—
absorbed
in
thought
.
That
question
recalled
to
her
mind
the
difficulties
of
her
position
,
and
convinced
her
how
little
scope
there
was
for
the
exercise
of
choice
in
respect
to
employment
.
The
old
woman
surveyed
her
fair
visitant
with
attention
;
the
sardonic
expression
of
her
countenance
changed
into
one
of
admiration
,
as
she
contemplated
that
lovely
girl
.
Her
head
was
so
gracefully
inclined
the
least
thing
over
one
shoulder
as
she
sat
wrapt
up
in
her
reflections
;
—
there
was
a
shade
of
such
bewitching
melancholy
upon
her
classic
countenance
:
the
long
,
dark
fringes
that
shadowed
her
deep
blue
eyes
,
gave
so
Murillo-like
a
