ofapproval
on
the
part
of
her
husband
,
she
accompanied
him
to
the
room
where
the
secretary
was
waiting
.
Markham
was
now
alone
with
Isabella
.
This
was
a
probable
occurrence
which
he
had
dreaded
all
that
evening
.
He
felt
himself
cruelly
embarrassed
in
her
presence
;
and
the
silence
which
prevailed
between
them
was
awkward
to
a
degree
.
At
length
the
signora
herself
spoke
.
"
It
appears
that
you
are
determined
to
leave
us
,
Mr.
Markham
?
"
she
said
,
without
glancing
towards
him
,
and
in
a
tone
which
she
endeavoured
to
render
as
cool
and
indifferent
as
possible
.
"
I
feel
that
I
have
been
too
long
here
already
,
signora
,
"
answered
Richard
,
scarcely
knowing
what
reply
to
make
.
"
Do
you
mean
to
tax
us
with
inattention
to
your
comfort
,
Mr.
Markham
?
"
"
God
forbid
,
signora
!
In
the
name
of
heaven
do
not
entertain
such
an
idea
!
"
"
Mr.
Markham
has
been
treated
as
well
as
our
humble
means
would
admit
;
and
he
leaves
us
with
an
abruptness
which
justifies
us
in
entertaining
fears
that
he
is
not
comfortable
.
"
"
How
can
I
convince
you
of
the
injustice
of
your
suspicions
?
"
ejaculated
Markham
.
"
You
would
not
wantonly
wound
my
feelings
,
Miss
Isabella
,
by
a
belief
which
is
totally
unfounded
?
No
!
that
is
not
the
cause
of
my
departure
.
My
own
happiness
—
my
own
honour
—
every
thing
commands
me
to
quit
a
spot
where
—
where
I
shall
,
nevertheless
,
leave
so
many
reminiscences
of
joy
and
tranquil
felicity
behind
me
!
I
dare
not
explain
myself
farther
at
present
;
perhaps
never
will
you
know
the
cause
—
but
,
pardon
me
,
signora
—
I
am
wandering
—
I
know
not
what
I
say
!
"
"
Pray
compose
yourself
,
Mr.
Markham
,
"
said
Isabella
,
now
raising
her
head
from
the
book
,
and
glancing
towards
him
.
"
Compose
myself
,
Isabella
—
signora
,
I
mean
,
"
he
exclaimed
:
"
that
is
impossible
!
Oh
!
if
you
knew
all
,
you
would
pity
me
!
But
I
dare
not
now
reveal
to
you
what
I
wish
.
A
word
which
this
day
dropped
from
your
father
's
lips
has
banished
all
hope
from
my
mind
.
Now
I
am
wandering
again
!
In
the
name
of
heaven
,
take
no
notice
of
what
I
say
;
I
am
mad
—
I
am
raving
!
"
"
And
what
was
it
that
my
father
said
to
annoy
you
?
"
inquired
Isabella
timidly
.
"
Oh
!
nothing
—
nothing
purposely
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
He
himself
was
unaware
that
he
fired
the
arrow
from
his
bow
.
"
"
Am
I
unworthy
of
your
confidence
in
this
instance
?
"
asked
Isabella
;
"
and
may
I
not
be
made
acquainted
with
the
nature
of
the
annoyance
which
my
father
has
thus
unintentionally
caused
you
to
experience
?
"
"
Oh
!
why
should
I
repeat
words
which
would
only
lead
to
a
revelation
of
what
it
is
now
useless
to
reveal
.
Your
father
and
mother
both
delivered
the
same
sentiment
—
a
sentiment
that
destroys
all
hope
.
But
,
oh
!
you
cannot
understand
the
cause
of
my
anxiety
—
my
grief
—
my
disappointment
!
"
"
And
why
not
entrust
me
with
that
cause
?
I
could
sympathise
with
you
as
a
friend
.
"
"
As
a
friend
!
Alas
,
Isabella
,
is
it
useless
for
me
now
to
deplore
the
visions
which
I
had
conjured
up
,
and
which
have
been
so
cruelly
destroyed
?
You
yourself
know
not
what
is
in
store
for
you
—
what
plans
your
father
may
have
formed
concerning
you
!
"
"
And
are
you
acquainted
with
those
plans
?
"
asked
the
beauteous
Italian
,
in
a
tone
of
voice
rendered
almost
inaudible
by
a
variety
of
emotions
—
for
the
heart
of
that
innocent
and
charming
being
fluttered
like
a
bird
in
the
net
of
the
fowler
.
"
Do
not
question
me
on
that
head
,
Isabella
!
Let
me
speak
of
myself
—
for
it
is
sweet
to
be
commiserated
by
such
as
you
!
My
life
for
some
time
past
has
been
a
scene
of
almost
unceasing
misery
.
When
I
came
of
age
I
found
my
vast
property
dissipated
by
him
to
whom
it
was
entrusted
.
And
other
circumstances
gave
a
new
and
unpleasant
aspect
to
those
places
which
were
dear
to
me
in
my
childhood
.
What
wild
hopes
,
in
early
life
,
had
I
there
indulged
,
—
what
dreams
for
the
future
had
there
visited
my
mind
in
its
boyhood
!
—
what
vain
wishes
,
what
strong
yearnings
,
what
ambitious
aspirations
had
there
first
found
existence
!
When
I
returned
to
those
spots
,
after
an
absence
of
two
years
,
and
thought
of
the
feelings
that
there
once
agitated
my
bosom
,
and
contrasted
them
with
those
which
had
displaced
them
,
—
when
I
traced
the
history
of
each
hope
from
its
inception
there
,
and
followed
it
through
the
vista
of
years
until
its
final
extinction
,
—
when
I
thought
how
differently
my
course
in
life
had
been
shaped
from
that
career
which
I
had
there
marked
out
,
and
how
vain
and
futile
were
all
the
efforts
and
strivings
which
I
exerted
against
the
tide
of
events
and
the
force
of
circumstances
,
—
I
awoke
,
as
it
were
from
a
long
dream
,
—
I
opened
my
eyes
upon
the
path
which
I
should
thenceforth
have
to
pursue
,
and
judged
of
it
by
the
one
I
had
been
pursuing
;
—
I
saw
the
nothingness
of
men
's
lives
in
general
,
and
the
utter
vanity
of
the
main
pursuits
which
engross
their
minds
,
and
waste
their
energies
;
—
and
I
then
felt
convinced
that
I
was
indeed
but
an
instrument
in
the
hands
of
another
,
and
that
the
ends
which
I
had
obtained
had
not
been
those
for
which
I
had
striven
,
but
which
the
Almighty
willed
!
So
is
it
with
me
now
,
Isabella
.
I
had
planned
a
dream
—
a
dream
of
Elysium
,
with
which
to
cheer
and
bless
the
remainder
of
my
existence
;
and
,
behold
!
like
all
the
former
hopes
and
aspirations
of
my
life
,
this
one
is
also
suddenly
destroyed
!
"
"
How
know
you
that
it
is
destroyed
?
"
inquired
Isabella
,
casting
down
her
eyes
.
"
Oh
!
I
am
unworthy
of
you
,
Isabella
—
I
do
not
deserve
you
;
and
yet
it
was
to
your
hand
that
I
aspired
;
—
you
were
the
star
that
was
to
irradiate
the
remainder
of
my
existence
!
Oh
!
I
could
weep
—
I
could
weep
,
Isabella
,
when
I
think
of
what
I
might
have
been
,
and
what
I
am
!
"
"
You
say
that
you
aspired
to
my
hand
,
"
murmured
the
lovely
Italian
maiden
,
casting
down
her
large
dark
eyes
and
blushing
deeply
;
"
you
did
me
honour
!
"
"
Silence
,
Isabella
—
silence
!
"
interrupted
Richard
.
"
I
dare
not
now
hear
the
words
of
hope
from
your
lips
!
But
I
love
thee
—
I
love
thee
—
God
only
knows
how
sincerely
I
love
thee
!
"
"
And
shall
I
conceal
my
own
feelings
with
regard
to
you
,
Richard
?
"
said
Isabella
,
approaching
him
and
laying
her
delicate
and
beautifully
modelled
hand
lightly
upon
his
wrist
.
"
She
loves
me
in
return
—
she
loves
me
!
"
ejaculated
Markham
,
half
wild
with
mingled
joy
and
apprehensions
;
—
and
,
yielding
to
an
impulse
which
no
mortal
under
such
circumstances
could
have
conquered
,
he
caught
her
in
his
arms
.
He
kissed
her
pure
and
chaste
brow
—
he
felt
her
fragrant
breath
upon
his
cheek
—
her
hair
commingled
with
his
own
—
and
he
murmured
the
words
,
"
You
love
me
?
"
A
gentle
voice
breathed
an
affirmative
in
his
ear
;
and
he
pressed
his
lips
to
hers
to
ratify
that
covenant
of
two
fond
hearts
.
Suddenly
he
recollected
that
Count
Alteroni
had
declared
that
no
one
against
whom
there
was
even
a
suspicion
of
crime
should
ever
form
a
connection
with
his
family
.
Markham
's
high
sense
of
honour
told
him
in
a
moment
that
he
had
no
right
to
secure
the
affections
of
a
confiding
and
gentle
girl
whose
father
would
never
yield
an
assent
to
their
union
:
his
brain
,
already
excited
,
now
became
inflamed
almost
to
madness
;
—
he
abruptly
turned
aside
from
her
who
had
just
avowed
her
attachment
to
him
,
—
he
muttered
some
incoherent
words
which
she
did
not
comprehend
,
and
rushed
out
of
the
room
.
He
hurried
to
the
garden
at
the
back
of
the
house
,
and
walked
rapidly
up
and
down
a
shady
avenue
of
trees
which
ran
along
the
wall
that
bounded
the
enclosure
on
the
side
of
the
public
road
.
By
degrees
he
grew
calm
and
relaxed
the
speed
of
his
pace
.
He
then
fell
into
a
long
and
profound
meditation
upon
the
occurrences
of
the
last
half
hour
.
He
was
beloved
by
Isabella
,
it
was
true
;
—
but
never
might
he
aspire
to
her
hand
;
—
never
could
it
be
accorded
to
him
to
lead
her
to
the
altar
where
their
attachment
might
be
ratified
and
his
happiness
confirmed
!
An
inseparable
barrier
seemed
to
oppose
itself
to
his
wishes
;
and
he
felt
that
no
alternative
remained
to
him
but
to
put
his
former
resolution
into
force
,
and
take
his
departure
homewards
on
the
ensuing
morning
.
Thus
was
it
that
he
now
reasoned
.
The
moon
shone
brightly
;
and
the
heavens
were
studded
with
stars
.
As
Markham
was
about
to
turn
for
the
twentieth
time
at
that
end
of
the
avenue
which
was
the
more
remote
from
the
house
,
the
beams
of
the
moon
suddenly
disclosed
to
him
a
human
face
peering
over
the
wall
at
him
.
He
started
,
and
was
about
to
utter
an
exclamation
of
alarm
,
when
a
well-known
voice
fell
upon
his
ears
.
"
Hush
!
"
was
the
word
first
spoken
;
"
I
have
just
one
question
to
ask
you
,
and
then
one
thing
to
tell
you
;
and
the
last
will
just
depend
upon
the
first
.
"
"
Wretch
—
miscreant
—
murderer
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
;
"
nothing
shall
now
prevent
me
from
securing
you
on
the
behalf
of
justice
.
"
"
Fool
!
"
coolly
returned
the
Resurrection
Man
—
for
it
was
he
;
"
who
can
catch
me
in
the
darkness
and
the
open
fields
?
"
"
True
!
"
cried
Markham
,
stamping
his
foot
with
vexation
.
"
But
God
grant
that
the
day
of
retribution
may
come
!
"
"
Come
,
come
—
none
of
this
nonsense
,
my
dear
boy
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
with
diabolical
irony
.
"
Now
,
answer
me
—
will
you
give
me
a
cool
hundred
and
fifty
?
If
not
,
then
I
will
get
swag
in
spite
of
you
.
"
"
Why
do
you
thus
molest
and
persecute
me
?
I
would
sooner
handle
the
most
venomous
serpent
,
than
enter
into
a
compromise
with
a
fiend
like
you
!
"
"
Then
beware
of
the
consequences
!
"
The
moon
shone
full
upon
the
cadaverous
and
unearthly
countenance
of
the
Resurrection
Man
,
and
revealed
the
expression
of
ferocious
rage
which
it
wore
as
he
uttered
these
words
.
That
vile
and
foreboding
face
then
suddenly
disappeared
behind
the
wall
.
"
Who
are
you
talking
to
,
Markham
?
"
cried
the
voice
of
the
count
,
who
was
now
advancing
down
the
avenue
.
"
Talking
to
?
"
repeated
Richard
,
alarmed
and
confused
.
"
Yes
—
I
heard
your
voice
,
and
another
answering
you
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
It
was
a
man
in
the
road
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
I
missed
you
from
the
drawing-room
on
my
return
;
and
Bella
said
she
thought
you
were
unwell
,
and
had
gone
to
walk
in
the
garden
for
the
fresh
air
.
The
news
I
have
received
from
Castelcicala
,
through
the
Envoy
's
secretary
,
are
by
no
means
favourable
to
my
hopes
of
a
speedy
return
to
my
native
land
.
You
therefore
see
that
I
have
done
well
to
lay
out
my
capital
in
this
.
But
we
will
not
discuss
matters
of
business
now
;
for
there
is
company
up
stairs
,
and
we
must
join
them
.
Who
do
you
think
have
just
made
their
appearance
?
"
"
Mr.
Armstrong
and
other
friends
?
"
said
Markham
inquiringly
.
"
No
—
Armstrong
is
on
the
Continent
.
The
visitors
are
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
and
Captain
Smilax
Dapper
;
and
I
am
by
no
means
pleased
with
their
company
.
However
,
my
house
must
always
remain
open
to
them
in
consequence
of
the
services
rendered
to
me
by
their
deceased
relative
.
"
Markham
accompanied
the
count
back
to
the
drawing-room
,
where
Captain
Smilax
Dapper
had
seated
himself
next
to
the
signora
;
and
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
was
endeavouring
to
divert
the
countess
with
an
account
of
their
journey
that
evening
from
London
.
They
both
coloured
deeply
and
bowed
very
politely
when
Richard
entered
the
apartment
.
"
Well
,
ath
I
wath
thaying
,
"
continued
Sir
Cherry
,
"
one
of
the
twatheth
bwoke
at
the
bottom
of
the
hill
,
and
the
hortheth
took
to
fwight
.
Thmilakth
thwore
like
a
twooper
;
but
nothing
could
thwop
the
thaithe
till
it
wolled
thlap
down
into
a
dwy
dith
.
Dapper
then
woared
like
a
bull
;
and
I
—
—
"
"
And
Cherry
began
to
cry
,
strike
me
if
he
did
n't
!
"
ejaculated
the
gallant
hussar
,
caressing
his
moustache
.
"
A
countryman
who
passed
by
asked
him
if
his
mamma
knew
he
was
out
:
Cherry
thought
that
the
fellow
was
in
earnest
,
and
assured
him
that
he
had
her
permission
to
undertake
the
journey
.
I
never
laughed
so
much
in
my
life
!
"
"
Oh
!
naughty
Dapper
to
thay
that
I
cwied
!
That
really
ith
too
cwuel
.
Well
,
we
got
the
thaithe
lifted
out
of
the
dith
,
and
the
twathe
mended
.
"
"
You
are
the
heroes
of
an
adventure
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
I
intend
to
put
it
into
verse
,
strike
me
ugly
if
I
do
n't
!
"
cried
the
young
officer
;
"
and
perhaps
the
signora
will
allow
me
to
copy
it
into
her
Album
?
"
"
Oh
!
I
must
read
it
first
,
"
said
Isabella
,
laughing
.
"
But
since
you
speak
of
my
Album
,
I
must
show
you
the
additions
I
have
received
to
its
treasures
.
"
"
This
is
really
a
beautiful
landscape
,
"
observed
Captain
Dapper
,
as
he
turned
over
the
leaves
of
the
book
which
the
beautiful
Italian
presented
to
him
.
"
The
water
flowing
over
the
wheel
of
the
mill
is
quite
natural
,
strike
me
!
And
—
may
I
never
know
what
fair
woman
's
smiles
are
again
,
if
those
trees
do
n't
seem
actually
to
be
growing
out
of
the
paper
!
"
"
Thuperb
?
"
ejaculated
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
.
"
The
wiver
litewally
wollth
along
in
the
picthure
.
The
cowth
and
the
theepe
are
walking
in
the
gween
fieldth
.
Pway
who
might
have
been
the
artitht
of
thith
mathleth
producthion
?
"
"
That
is
a
secret
,
"
said
the
signora
.
"
And
now
read
these
lines
.
"
"
Read
them
yourself
,
Bella
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
No
one
can
do
justice
to
them
but
you
.
"
Isabella
accordingly
read
the
following
stanzas
in
a
tone
of
voice
that
added
a
new
charm
to
the
words
themselves
:
—
LONDON
.
'
Twas
midnight
—
and
the
beam
of
Cynthia
shone
In
company
with
many
a
lovely
star
,
Steeping
in
silver
the
huge
Babylon
Whose
countless
habitations
stretch
afar
,
Plain
,
valley
,
hill
,
and
river
's
bank
upon
,
And
in
whose
mighty
heart
all
interests
jar
!
—
O
sovereign
city
of
a
thousand
towers
,
What
vice
is
cradled
in
thy
princely
bowers
!
If
thou
would'st
view
fair
London-town
aright
,
Survey
her
from
the
bridge
of
Waterloo
;
And
let
the
hour
be
at
the
morning
's
light
,
When
the
sun
's
earliest
rays
have
struggled
through
The
star-bespangled
curtain
of
the
night
,
And
when
Aurora
's
locks
are
moist
with
dew
:
Then
take
thy
stand
upon
that
bridge
,
and
see
London
awake
in
all
her
majesty
!
Then
do
her
greatest
features
seem
to
crowd
Down
to
the
river
's
brink
:
—
then
does
she
raise
From
off
her
brow
the
everlasting
cloud
,
(
Thus
with
her
veil
the
coquette
archly
plays
)
And
for
a
moment
shows
her
features
,
proud
To
catch
the
Rembrandt
light
of
the
sun
's
rays
:
—
Then
may
the
eye
of
the
beholder
dwell
On
steeple
,
column
,
dome
,
and
pinnacle
.
Yes
—
he
may
reckon
temple
,
mart
,
and
tower
—
The
old
historic
sites
—
the
halls
of
kings
—
The
seats
of
art
—
the
fortalice
of
power
—
The
ships
that
waft
our
commerce
on
their
wings
—
All
these
commingle
in
that
dawning
hour
;
And
each
into
one
common
focus
brings
Some
separate
moral
of
life
's
scenes
so
true
,
As
all
those
objects
form
one
point
of
view
!
The
ceaseless
hum
of
the
huge
Babylon
Has
known
no
silence
for
a
thousand
years
;
Still
does
her
tide
of
human
life
flow
on
,
Still
is
she
racked
with
sorrows
,
hopes
,
and
fears
;
Still
the
sun
sets
,
still
morning
dawns
upon
Hearts
full
of
anguish
,
eye-balls
dimmed
with
tears
:
—
Still
do
the
millions
toil
to
bless
the
few
—
And
hideous
Want
stalks
all
her
pathways
through
!
"
Beautiful
—
very
beautiful
!
"
exclaimed
Captain
Dapper
.
"
Strike
me
if
I
ever
heard
more
beautiful
poetry
!
"
"
Almotht
ath
good
ath
your
lineth
on
the
Thea
Therpent
.
Wath
the
poem
witten
by
the
thame
perthon
that
painted
the
landthcape
?
"
"
The
very
same
,
"
answered
Isabella
.
"
His
initials
are
in
the
corner
.
"
"
R
.
M
.
Who
can
that
be
?
"
exclaimed
Dapper
.
"
Robert
Montgomery
,
perhaps
?
"
said
Isabella
,
smiling
with
a
charmingly
arch
expression
of
countenance
.
"
No
—
Wichard
Markham
!
"
cried
Sir
Cherry
;
and
then
he
and
his
friend
the
hussar
captain
were
excessively
annoyed
to
think
that
they
had
been
extolling
to
the
skies
the
performances
of
an
individual
who
had
frightened
the
one
out
of
his
wits
,
and
boxed
the
ears
of
the
other
.
Thus
passed
the
evening
;
but
Markham
was
reserved
and
melancholy
.
It
was
in
vain
that
Isabella
exerted
herself
to
instil
confidence
into
his
mind
,
by
means
of
those
thousand
little
attentions
and
manifestations
of
preference
which
lovers
know
so
well
how
to
exhibit
,
but
which
those
around
perceive
not
.
Richard
was
firm
in
those
resolutions
which
he
deemed
consistent
with
propriety
and
honour
;
and
he
deeply
regretted
the
explanation
and
its
consequences
into
which
the
enthusiasm
of
the
moment
had
that
evening
led
him
.
At
length
the
hour
for
retiring
to
rest
arrived
.
Richard
repaired
to
his
chamber
—
but
not
to
sleep
.
His
mind
was
too
much
harassed
by
the
events
of
the
evening
—
the
plans
which
he
had
pursued
,
and
those
which
he
intended
to
pursue
—
the
love
which
he
bore
to
Isabel
,
and
the
stern
opposition
which
might
be
anticipated
from
her
father
—
the
persecution
to
which
he
was
subject
at
the
hands
of
the
Resurrection
Man
—
and
the
train
of
evil
fortune
which
appeared
constantly
to
attend
upon
him
;
—
of
all
these
he
thought
;
and
his
painful
meditations
defied
the
advance
of
slumber
.
The
window
of
his
bed-chamber
overlooked
the
garden
at
the
back
of
the
house
;
from
which
direction
a
strange
and
alarming
noise
suddenly
broke
in
upon
his
reflections
.
He
listened
—
and
all
was
quiet
:
he
therefore
felt
convinced
that
his
terror
was
unfounded
.
A
few
moments
elapsed
;
and
he
was
again
alarmed
by
a
sound
which
seemed
like
the
jarring
of
an
unfastened
shutter
.
A
certain
uneasiness
now
took
possession
of
him
;
and
he
was
determined
to
ascertain
whether
all
was
safe
about
the
premises
.
He
leapt
from
his
bed
,
raised
the
window
,
and
looked
forth
.
The
night
was
now
pitch
dark
;
and
he
could
distinguish
nothing
.
Not
even
were
the
outlines
of
the
trees
in
the
garden
discernible
amidst
that
profound
and
dense
obscurity
.
Markham
held
his
breath
;
and
the
whispering
of
voices
met
his
ears
.
He
could
not
,
however
,
distinguish
a
word
they
uttered
:
—
a
low
hissing
continuous
murmur
,
the
nature
of
which
it
was
impossible
to
mistake
,
convinced
him
that
some
persons
were
talking
together
immediately
beneath
his
window
.
In
a
few
moments
the
jarring
of
a
door
or
shutter
,
which
he
had
before
heard
,
was
repeated
;
and
then
the
whispering
ceased
.
By
this
time
his
eyes
had
become
accustomed
to
the
darkness
;
and
he
could
now
faintly
discern
the
outlines
of
three
human
forms
standing
together
at
the
back
door
of
the
house
.
He
could
not
,
however
,
distinguish
the
precise
nature
of
their
present
employment
.
It
was
,
nevertheless
,
evident
to
him
that
they
were
not
there
with
any
honest
intention
in
view
;
and
he
resolved
to
adopt
immediate
measures
to
defeat
their
burglarious
schemes
.
He
hastily
threw
on
his
clothes
,
struck
a
light
,
and
issued
from
his
room
.
Cautiously
advancing
along
a
passage
was
the
count
,
only
half-dressed
,
with
a
pistol
in
each
hand
and
a
cutlass
under
his
arm
.
"
This
is
fortunate
!
"
whispered
the
count
:
"
I
was
coming
to
alarm
you
:
there
are
thieves
breaking
in
.
You
and
I
can
manage
them
;
it
is
of
no
use
to
call
Bounce
or
Dapper
.
Take
this
cutlass
,
and
let
us
descend
gently
.
Here
come
the
men-servants
.
"
The
count
hurried
down
stairs
,
followed
by
Markham
,
and
the
three
male
domestics
of
the
household
.
A
noise
was
heard
in
the
pantry
,
which
was
situate
at
the
back
of
the
house
on
the
same
level
with
the
hall
.
"
Douse
the
darkey
,
blow
the
glim
,
and
mizzle
,
"
cried
a
hoarse
gruff
voice
,
as
the
count
,
Richard
,
and
the
servants
approached
the
pantry
:
"
there
's
five
on
'
em
—
it
's
no
use
—
—
"
The
count
rushed
forward
,
and
burst
open
the
door
of
the
pantry
,
closely
followed
by
Markham
,
holding
the
candle
.
Two
of
the
burglars
made
a
desperate
push
down
the
kitchen
stairs
and
escaped
:
the
third
was
captured
in
an
attempt
to
follow
his
companions
.
The
light
of
the
candle
fell
upon
the
villain
's
countenance
,
which
was
literally
ghastly
with
a
mingled
expression
of
rage
and
alarm
.
Richard
shuddered
:
for
the
captured
burglar
was
no
other
than
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Wretch
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
recovering
his
self-command
:
"
the
law
will
at
length
reach
you
.
"
"
What
!
do
you
know
this
fellow
?
"
demanded
the
count
,
somewhat
surprised
by
the
observation
.
"
Know
me
!
"
cried
the
Resurrection
Man
:
"
of
course
he
does
.
But
supposing
someone
was
to
tell
you
a
piece
of
valuable
information
,
count
—
about
a
matter
closely
concerning
yourself
and
family
—
would
you
be
inclined
to
be
merciful
?
"
"
Of
what
nature
is
that
information
?
It
must
be
very
valuable
indeed
,
if
you
think
that
I
will
enter
into
any
compromise
with
such
as
you
.
"
"
Pledge
me
your
word
that
you
will
let
me
go
scot
free
,
and
I
will
tell
you
something
that
concerns
the
peace
and
happiness
—
perhaps
the
honour
of
your
daughter
.
"
"
Miscreant
!
"
cried
Markham
:
"
profane
not
that
lady
by
even
alluding
to
her
!
"
"
Stay
—
curse
the
fellow
's
impudence
,
"
said
the
count
:
"
perhaps
he
may
really
have
somewhat
worth
communicating
.
At
all
events
,
I
will
try
him
.
Now
,
then
,
my
man
,
what
is
it
that
you
have
to
say
?
If
your
statement
be
worth
hearing
,
I
swear
that
I
will
neither
molest
you
,
nor
suffer
you
to
be
molested
.
"
"
Hold
,
count
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
:
"
make
no
rash
vow
—
you
know
not
what
a
wretch
—
—
"
"
Silence
,
my
dear
friend
,
"
said
the
count
authoritatively
:
"
I
will
hear
the
man
,
let
him
be
who
or
what
he
may
!
"
"
And
you
will
do
well
to
hear
me
,
sir
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
You
harbour
a
villain
in
your
house
;
and
that
villain
is
now
before
you
.
He
boasts
of
having
secured
the
affections
of
your
daughter
,
and
hopes
to
gull
you
into
allowing
him
to
marry
her
.
"
"
Miscreant
—
murderer
!
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
no
longer
able
to
contain
his
indignation
:
"
pollute
not
innocence
itself
by
these
allusions
to
a
lady
whose
spotless
mind
—
—
"
"
Hush
!
"
said
the
count
.
"
Let
us
hear
patiently
all
this
man
has
to
say
.
I
can
soon
judge
whether
he
be
speaking
the
truth
;
and
if
he
deceives
me
,
I
will
show
him
no
mercy
.
"
"
But
,
count
—
allow
me
one
word
—
I
myself
will
unfold
—
—
"
"
Excuse
me
,
Markham
,
"
interrupted
the
Italian
noble
,
with
dignified
firmness
:
"
I
will
hear
this
man
first
.
Proceed
!
"
"
The
villain
I
allude
to
is
of
course
that
Markham
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
It
was
him
,
too
,
that
induced
me
and
my
pals
,
the
Cracksman
and
the
Buffer
,
to
make
this
attempt
upon
your
house
to-night
.
"
"
What
foul
—
what
hideous
calumny
is
this
!
"
almost
screamed
the
distracted
Markham
,
as
this
totally
unexpected
and
unfounded
accusation
met
his
ears
.
The
count
himself
was
shocked
at
this
announcement
;
for
he
suddenly
recollected
Richard
's
moody
,
embarrassed
,
and
thoughtful
manner
the
whole
evening
,
and
his
sudden
intention
of
departing
the
next
day
.
"
Go
on
,
"
said
the
count
.
"
I
met
that
man
,
"
continued
the
body-snatcher
,
pointing
contemptuously
towards
Markham
,
"
a
little
more
than
a
fortnight
ago
in
this
neighbourhood
:
he
was
walking
with
your
daughter
;
and
it
was
in
consequence
of
certain
little
arrangements
with
me
that
he
went
back
to
London
next
day
.
Oh
!
I
am
well
acquainted
with
all
his
movements
.
"
"
And
you
sought
my
life
in
a
manner
the
most
base
—
—
"
began
Markham
,
unable
to
restrain
his
feelings
.
"
Silence
,
Markham
!
"
exclaimed
the
count
,
still
more
authoritatively
than
before
.
"
Your
time
to
speak
will
come
.
"
"
We
planned
this
work
while
he
was
in
London
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
;
"
and
this
very
evening
he
told
me
over
the
garden
wall
that
all
was
right
.
"
"
Merciful
God
!
"
cried
the
count
:
"
this
is
but
too
true
!
"
"
Yes
,
sir
—
I
certainly
spoke
to
him
,
"
said
Richard
,
—
"
and
from
the
garden
too
—
—
"
"
Mr.
Markham
,
this
continued
interruption
is
indecent
,
"
exclaimed
the
count
emphatically
,
while
a
cold
perspiration
burst
out
upon
his
forehead
;
for
he
had
recalled
to
mind
the
incident
respecting
the
garden
.
"
I
have
little
more
to
add
,
count
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
This
Markham
told
me
that
you
had
plenty
of
plate
and
money
always
in
the
house
;
and
as
he
had
lost
nearly
all
his
property
,
he
should
not
be
displeased
at
an
opportunity
of
getting
hold
of
a
little
swag
.
It
was
agreed
that
we
should
meet
in
London
to
arrange
the
business
;
and
so
we
did
meet
at
the
Dark
House
in
Brick
Lane
,
where
we
settled
the
affair
along
with
the
Cracksman
and
the
Buffer
,
who
have
just
made
off
.
This
is
all
I
have
to
say
—
unless
it
is
that
me
and
your
friend
Markham
first
got
acquainted
in
Newgate
—
—
"
"
Newgate
!
"
ejaculated
the
count
,
with
a
thrill
of
horror
.
"
Yes
—
Newgate
;
where
he
was
waiting
to
be
tried
for
forgery
,
for
which
he
got
two
years
in
the
Compter
.
And
that
's
all
.
Let
him
deny
it
if
he
can
.
"
Scarcely
were
these
terrible
words
uttered
by
the
Resurrection
Man
,
when
a
loud
—
long
—
and
piercing
scream
was
heard
,
coming
from
the
direction
of
the
staircase
;
and
then
some
object
instantly
fell
with
violence
upon
the
marble
floor
of
the
hall
.
"
Isabella
!
Isabella
!
"
ejaculated
Markham
,
turning
hastily
round
to
hurry
to
her
assistance
.
"
Stop
,
sir
—
seek
not
my
daughter
,
"
cried
the
count
,
in
a
stern
voice
,
as
he
caught
Richard
's
arm
and
held
him
back
.
"
Let
not
a
soul
stir
until
my
return
!
"
There
was
a
noble
and
dignified
air
of
command
about
Count
Alteroni
,
as
he
uttered
these
words
,
which
could
not
escape
the
notice
of
Richard
Markham
,
even
amidst
the
crushing
and
overwhelming
circumstances
that
surrounded
him
.
The
count
took
the
candle
from
Markham
's
hand
,
and
hastened
to
the
aid
of
his
daughter
,
who
,
half-dressed
,
was
lying
upon
the
cold
marble
of
the
hall
.
He
hastened
to
raise
her
;
and
at
that
moment
the
countess
appeared
upon
the
stairs
,
followed
by
a
lady's-maid
bearing
a
lamp
.
The
count
reassured
her
in
respect
to
the
safety
of
the
house
,
consigned
Isabella
to
her
care
,
and
then
returned
to
the
pantry
,
where
his
presence
was
awaited
in
silence
.
"
Have
you
any
thing
more
to
say
?
"
demanded
the
count
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Nothing
.
Have
not
I
said
enough
?
"
—
and
he
glanced
with
fiendish
triumph
towards
Markham
.
"
Now
,
sir
,
"
said
the
count
,
turning
to
Richard
;
"
is
the
statement
of
this
man
easy
to
be
refuted
?
"
"
Alas
!
I
am
compelled
to
admit
that
,
the
victim
of
the
most
extraordinary
circumstantial
evidence
ever
known
to
fix
guilt
upon
an
innocent
man
,
I
was
a
prisoner
in
Newgate
and
the
Compter
;
but
—
—
"
"
Say
no
more
!
say
no
more
!
God
forgive
me
,
that
I
should
have
allowed
such
a
man
to
become
the
friend
of
my
wife
and
daughter
!
"
The
count
uttered
these
words
in
a
tone
of
intense
agony
.
"
Count
Alteroni
,
allow
me
one
word
of
explanation
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
Only
cast
your
eyes
over
this
paper
,
and
you
will
be
convinced
of
my
innocence
!
"
Markham
handed
the
document
signed
by
Talbot
,
alias
Pocock
,
to
the
count
;
but
the
nobleman
tossed
it
indignantly
on
the
floor
.
"
You
have
confessed
that
you
have
been
an
inmate
of
the
felons
'
gaols
:
what
explanation
can
you
give
that
will
wipe
away
so
foul
a
stain
?
Depart
—
begone
!
defile
not
my
house
longer
with
your
presence
!
"
Vainly
did
Markham
endeavour
to
obtain
a
hearing
.
The
count
silenced
him
with
an
air
of
command
and
an
imposing
dignity
of
manner
that
struck
him
with
awe
.
Never
did
the
Italian
nobleman
appear
more
really
noble
than
when
he
was
thus
performing
that
which
he
considered
to
be
an
imperious
duty
.
His
fine
form
was
drawn
up
to
its
full
height
—
his
chest
expanded
—
his
cheeks
were
flushed
—
and
his
eyes
flashed
fire
.
Yes
—
even
beneath
his
dark
complexion
was
the
rich
Italian
blood
seen
mantling
his
countenance
.
"
Go
,
sir
—
hasten
your
departure
—
stay
not
another
minute
here
!
A
man
accused
of
forgery
—
condemned
to
an
infamous
punishment
,
—
a
liberated
felon
—
a
freed
convict
in
my
family
dwelling
—
—
Holy
God
!
I
can
scarcely
restrain
myself
within
the
bounds
of
common
patience
when
I
think
of
the
indignity
that
myself
,
my
wife
,
and
my
innocent
daughter
have
endured
.
"
With
these
words
the
colonel
pushed
Markham
rudely
from
the
pantry
,
and
ordered
a
servant
to
conduct
him
to
the
front
door
.
The
blood
of
the
young
man
boiled
in
his
veins
at
this
ignominious
treatment
;
—
and
yet
he
dared
not
rebel
against
it
!
The
Resurrection
Man
took
his
departure
at
the
same
time
by
the
garden
at
the
back
of
the
house
.
As
Markham
turned
down
the
shrubbery
,
a
window
on
the
third
floor
of
the
count
's
dwelling
was
thrown
open
;
and
the
voices
of
Sir
Cherry
Bounce
and
the
Honourable
Captain
Dapper
were
heard
loading
him
with
abuse
.
Bowed
down
to
the
earth
by
the
weight
of
the
misfortune
which
had
just
fallen
upon
his
head
,
—
crushed
by
unjust
and
unfounded
suspicions
,
—
and
sinking
beneath
a
sense
of
shame
and
degradation
,
which
all
his
innocence
did
not
deprive
of
a
single
pang
,
—
Markham
dragged
himself
away
from
the
house
in
which
he
had
passed
so
many
happy
hours
,
and
where
he
left
behind
him
all
that
he
held
dear
in
this
life
.
He
seated
himself
upon
a
mile-stone
at
a
little
distance
from
the
count
's
mansion
,
to
which
he
turned
his
eyes
to
take
a
last
farewell
of
the
place
where
Isabella
resided
.
Lights
were
moving
about
in
several
rooms
;
—
perhaps
she
was
ill
?
Most
assuredly
she
had
heard
the
dread
accusations
which
had
issued
from
the
lips
of
the
Resurrection
Man
against
her
lover
;
—
and
she
would
haply
believe
them
all
?
So
thought
Richard
.
Human
language
cannot
convey
an
adequate
idea
of
the
heart-rending
misery
which
the
poor
oppressed
young
man
endured
as
he
sate
by
the
road-side
,
and
pondered
upon
all
that
had
just
occurred
.
Shame
upon
shame
—
degradation
upon
degradation
—
mountain
upon
mountain
rolled
on
his
breast
,
as
if
he
were
a
modern
Titan
,
to
crush
him
and
keep
him
down
—
never
more
to
rise
;
—
this
was
now
his
fate
!
At
length
,
afraid
of
being
left
alone
with
his
own
thoughts
,
which
seemed
to
urge
him
to
end
his
earthly
woes
in
the
blood
of
a
suicide
,
he
rose
from
the
cold
stone
,
turned
one
last
sorrowful
and
lingering
glance
towards
the
mansion
in
the
distance
,
and
then
hurried
along
the
road
to
Richmond
as
if
he
were
pursued
by
bloodhounds
.
And
not
more
fearful
nor
more
appalling
would
those
bloodhounds
have
been
than
the
horrible
and
excruciating
thoughts
which
haunted
him
upon
his
way
,
and
of
which
he
could
not
divest
himself
;
so
that
at
length
a
species
of
delirium
seized
upon
him
as
he
ran
furiously
onward
,
the
mark
of
Cain
appearing
to
burn
like
red-hot
iron
upon
his
brow
,
and
a
terrible
voice
thundering
in
his
ear
—
"
Freed
Convict
!
"
CHAPTER
XLVII
.
ELIZA
SYDNEY
.
THE
reader
will
remember
that
the
events
already
related
have
brought
us
up
to
the
close
of
1838.
Thus
three
years
had
elapsed
since
the
memorable
trial
which
resulted
in
the
condemnation
of
Eliza
Sydney
to
an
imprisonment
of
twenty-four
long
months
in
Newgate
;
and
a
year
had
passed
since
her
release
from
that
dread
abode
.
We
therefore
return
to
her
again
in
December
,
1838
—
about
the
same
time
that
those
incidents
occurred
which
we
detailed
in
the
last
few
chapters
.
Probably
to
the
surprise
of
the
reader
,
we
again
find
Eliza
Sydney
the
mistress
of
the
beautiful
villa
at
Upper
Clapton
.
Yes
:
on
the
evening
when
we
once
more
introduce
ourselves
to
her
,
she
was
sitting
alone
in
the
drawing-room
of
that
home
,
reading
by
the
side
of
a
cheerful
fire
.
She
was
now
twenty-eight
years
of
age
;
and
,
although
somewhat
more
inclining
to
embonpoint
than
when
we
first
described
her
,
she
was
still
a
lovely
and
fascinating
woman
.
That
slightly
increased
roundness
of
form
had
given
her
charms
a
voluptuousness
the
most
ravishing
and
seductive
,
but
the
effects
of
which
upon
the
beholder
were
attempered
by
the
dignity
that
reigned
upon
her
high
and
noble
brow
,
and
the
chaste
expression
of
her
melting
hazel
eyes
.
She
was
one
of
those
fine
creatures
—
one
of
those
splendid
specimens
of
the
female
sex
,
which
are
alone
seen
in
the
cold
climates
of
the
north
;
for
it
appears
to
be
a
rule
in
nature
that
the
flowers
of
our
species
expand
into
the
most
luscious
loveliness
in
the
least
genial
latitudes
.
There
was
a
soft
melancholy
in
the
expression
of
her
countenance
,
which
might
have
been
mistaken
for
languor
,
and
which
gave
an
additional
charm
to
her
appearance
;
for
it
was
easy
to
perceive
her
mind
was
now
at
ease
,
that
delicate
shade
of
sadness
being
the
indelible
effect
of
the
adventures
of
the
past
.
Her
mind
was
at
ease
,
because
she
was
pure
in
heart
and
virtuous
in
intention
,
—
because
she
knew
that
she
had
erred
innocently
when
she
lent
herself
to
the
fraud
for
which
she
had
suffered
,
—
because
she
possessed
a
competency
that
secured
her
against
care
for
the
present
and
fear
for
the
future
,
—
and
because
she
dwelt
in
that
strict
solitude
and
retirement
which
she
loved
,
and
which
was
congenial
to
a
soul
that
had
seen
enough
of
the
world
to
learn
to
dread
its
cruel
artifices
and
deceptive
ways
.
We
said
that
it
was
evening
when
we
again
introduce
Eliza
to
the
readers
.
A
cold
wind
whistled
without
;
and
a
huge
Christmas
log
burnt
at
the
back
of
the
grate
,
giving
an
air
of
supreme
comfort
to
that
tastefully-furnished
room
.
The
French
porcelain
time-piece
upon
the
mantel
proclaimed
the
hour
of
eight
.
Scarcely
had
the
silvery
chime
ceased
,
when
Louisa
entered
the
room
in
great
haste
and
excitement
.
"
Oh
,
ma'am
!
who
do
you
think
is
here
?
"
she
cried
,
closing
the
door
carefully
behind
her
.
"
It
is
impossible
for
me
to
guess
,
Louisa
,
"
said
Eliza
,
smiling
.
"
Mr.
Stephens
!
"
exclaimed
the
servant
:
"
and
he
earnestly
implores
to
see
you
!
"
"
Mr.
Stephens
!
"
echoed
Eliza
.
"
Impossible
!
"
"
It
is
him
,
flesh
and
blood
:
but
so
pale
—
so
ghostly
pale
—
and
so
altered
!
"
"
Mr.
Stephens
!
"
repeated
Eliza
.
"
You
must
be
mistaken
—
you
must
be
dreaming
;
for
you
are
well
aware
that
,
in
accordance
with
his
sentence
,
he
most
be
very
—
very
far
from
England
.
"
"
He
is
here
—
he
is
in
London
—
he
is
at
your
door
!
"
said
Louisa
emphatically
;
"
and
as
far
as
I
could
see
by
the
light
of
the
candle
that
I
had
with
me
when
I
answered
his
knock
,
he
is
in
rags
and
tatters
.
"
"
And
he
wishes
to
see
me
?
"
said
Eliza
,
musing
.
"
Yes
,
ma'am
.
"
There
was
a
pause
of
a
few
moments
.
"
I
will
see
him
,
"
exclaimed
Eliza
,
in
a
decided
tone
,
after
some
consideration
.
"
He
may
be
in
want
—
in
distress
;
and
I
cannot
forget
that
he
proclaimed
my
innocence
in
the
dock
of
the
Old
Bailey
.
"
Louisa
left
the
room
:
and
in
another
minute
the
convict
Stephens
stood
in
the
presence
of
Eliza
Sydney
.
Altered
!
he
was
indeed
altered
.
His
eyes
were
sunken
and
lustreless
—
his
cheeks
wan
and
hollow
—
his
hair
prematurely
tinged
with
grey
—
and
his
form
thin
and
emaciated
.
He
was
moreover
clad
in
rags
—
absolute
rags
.
"
My
God
!
"
ejaculated
Eliza
:
"
in
what
a
condition
do
you
return
to
your
native
land
!
"
"
And
heaven
alone
knows
what
sacrifices
I
have
made
,
and
what
hardships
I
have
undergone
to
come
back
!
"
said
Stephens
in
a
hollow
voice
.
"
You
are
pardoned
,
then
?
"
"
Oh
,
no
!
crimes
like
mine
are
not
so
readily
forgiven
.
I
escaped
!
"
"
Escaped
!
"
exclaimed
Eliza
:
"
and
are
you
not
afraid
of
being
recaptured
?
"
"
I
must
run
that
risk
,
"
replied
Stephens
,
sorrowfully
.
"
But
give
me
food
—
I
am
hungry
—
I
am
starving
!
"
The
unhappy
man
sank
upon
a
chair
as
he
uttered
these
words
;
and
Eliza
summoned
Louisa
to
bring
refreshments
.
The
servant
placed
a
tray
laden
with
provisions
upon
the
table
,
and
retired
.
Stephens
then
fell
ravenously
upon
the
food
thus
set
before
him
;
while
tears
stood
in
Eliza
's
eyes
when
she
thought
that
the
miserable
wretch
had
once
commanded
in
that
house
where
he
now
craved
a
morsel
of
bread
!
At
length
the
convict
terminated
his
meal
.
"
I
had
eaten
nothing
,
"
he
said
,
"
since
yesterday
afternoon
,
when
I
spent
my
last
penny
to
procure
a
roll
.
Last
night
I
slept
in
a
shed
near
the
docks
,
a
large
stone
for
my
pillow
.
All
this
day
I
have
been
wandering
about
the
most
obscure
and
wretched
neighbourhoods
of
London
—
not
knowing
whither
to
go
,
and
afraid
to
be
seen
by
any
one
who
may
recognise
me
.
Recognise
me
!
"
he
added
,
in
a
strange
satirical
manner
:
"
that
would
perhaps
be
difficult
;
"
then
,
linking
his
voice
almost
to
a
whisper
,
he
said
in
a
tone
of
profound
and
touching
melancholy
,
"
Do
you
not
find
me
much
—
very
much
altered
?
"
"
You
have
doubtless
suffered
deeply
,
"
said
Eliza
,
wiping
away
the
tears
from
her
eyes
;
for
at
that
moment
she
remembered
not
the
injury
brought
by
that
man
upon
herself
—
she
saw
and
knew
of
nought
save
the
misery
of
the
hapless
being
before
her
.
"
You
weep
,
Eliza
,
"
exclaimed
Stephens
,
"
you
weep
for
me
who
am
unworthy
even
of
your
notice
!
"
"
Forget
the
past
:
I
prefer
dwelling
upon
the
kindnesses
rather
than
the
injuries
I
have
experienced
at
your
hands
.
"
"
Excellent
woman
!
"
cried
the
convict
,
deeply
affected
.
"
Oh
!
you
know
not
what
I
have
endured
—
what
dangers
I
have
incurred
—
what
hardships
I
have
undergone
—
what
privations
I
have
experienced
!
Compelled
to
work
my
passage
back
to
England
as
a
common
sailor
—
a
prey
to
the
brutality
of
a
tyrannical
and
drunken
captain
—
exposed
to
all
the
inclemencies
of
the
weather
,
—
no
tongue
can
tell
what
I
have
gone
through
!
But
I
will
not
weary
you
with
my
complaints
.
Rather
let
me
hear
how
you
yourself
have
fared
.
"
"
My
tale
is
short
,
"
answered
Eliza
.
"
The
two
years
in
Newgate
passed
away
.
God
knows
how
they
passed
away
—
but
they
did
pass
!
Of
that
I
will
say
no
more
—
save
that
the
most
powerful
interest
was
exerted
to
obtain
a
mitigation
of
my
sentence
—
but
in
vain
!
The
Secretary
of
State
assured
the
Earl
of
Warrington
that
he
could
not
interfere
with
the
very
lenient
judgment
awarded
by
the
court
relative
to
myself
.
One
more
circumstance
I
must
mention
.
Every
three
months
,
when
the
prison
regulations
allowed
the
admission
of
the
friends
of
those
confined
,
a
lady
visited
me
;
and
though
that
lady
be
the
mistress
of
the
Earl
of
Warrington
,
I
would
rejoice
to
call
her
sister
.
"
"
Oh
!
how
rejoiced
I
am
to
know
that
you
were
not
without
friends
!
"
exclaimed
Stephens
.
"
The
Earl
of
Warrington
sent
me
by
this
lady
assurances
of
his
forgiveness
,
and
even
of
his
intention
to
befriend
me
,
for
the
sake
of
my
dear
departed
mother
.
But
,
oh
!
who
could
have
anticipated
the
noble
—
the
generous
conduct
pursued
towards
me
by
that
nobleman
?
The
day
of
my
liberation
dawned
.
Mrs.
Arlington
came
in
the
earl
's
private
travelling
carriage
,
and
received
me
at
the
door
of
the
prison
.
The
carriage
rolled
away
;
and
,
when
I
had
recovered
from
the
first
emotions
of
joy
at
leaving
that
horrible
place
,
I
found
we
were
proceeding
along
the
Hackney
Road
.
I
cast
a
glance
of
surprise
at
Mrs.
Arlington
;
she
only
smiled
,
and
would
not
gratify
my
curiosity
.
At
length
we
came
in
sight
of
the
villa
,
and
my
astonishment
increased
.
Still
Mrs.
Arlington
only
smiled
.
In
a
few
minutes
more
the
carriage
entered
the
enclosure
,
and
drove
up
to
this
door
.
Mrs.
Arlington
seemed
to
enjoy
my
surprise
—
and
yet
tears
glistened
in
her
eyes
.
Oh
!
the
admirable
woman
:
they
were
tears
of
joy
at
the
grateful
task
which
the
earl
had
imposed
upon
her
.
The
front
door
opened
,
and
Louisa
ran
forward
to
welcome
me
.
Mrs.
Arlington
took
my
hand
,
and
led
me
into
the
dining-room
.
The
furniture
was
all
entirely
new
.
She
conducted
me
over
the
house
:
every
room
was
similarly
renovated
.
At
length
I
felt
exhausted
with
pleasure
,
hope
,
and
alarm
,
and
sank
upon
the
sofa
in
this
apartment
.
'
My
dear
Eliza
,
'
said
Mrs.
Arlington
,
'
all
that
you
survey
is
yours
.
The
very
house
itself
is
your
own
property
.
The
Earl
of
Warrington
has
purchased
it
,
for
you
;
and
his
solicitor
,
Mr.
Pakenham
,
will
call
upon
you
to-morrow
with
the
title-deeds
.
'
—
—
I
fainted
through
excess
of
happiness
and
gratitude
.
"
"
How
noble
!
"
exclaimed
Stephens
.
"
I
knew
that
the
Earl
of
Warrington
had
purchased
this
estate
;
for
I
had
already
mortgaged
it
to
its
full
value
previous
to
that
fatal
epoch
when
all
my
hopes
failed
!
My
brother
,
who
resided
in
Liverpool
,
left
England
six
months
after
my
departure
,
and
went
out
to
settle
in
New
South
Wales
.
He
told
me
that
the
person
who
had
lent
me
the
money
upon
this
property
,
had
disposed
of
it
to
the
earl
.
My
brother
's
object
was
to
settle
at
Sydney
,
and
procure
me
to
be
allotted
to
him
as
his
servant
.
I
should
then
have
been
free
.
But
,
alas
!
scarcely
had
he
set
foot
in
the
island
,
when
he
was
seized
with
a
malignant
fever
,
which
proved
fatal
.
"
"
Misfortunes
never
come
singly
,
"
said
Eliza
.
Then
,
after
a
pause
,
she
added
,
"
Neither
do
blessings
!
And
if
I
have
been
greatly
afflicted
—
I
have
also
enjoyed
some
happiness
.
In
reference
to
my
own
narrative
,
I
must
add
that
Mr.
Pakenham
called
on
the
following
day
,
as
Mrs.
Arlington
had
promised
;
and
he
placed
the
deeds
in
my
hand
.
I
desired
him
to
retain
them
in
his
care
for
me
.
He
then
informed
me
that
the
Earl
of
Warrington
had
purchased
for
me
an
annuity
of
four
hundred
pounds
a-year
.
Oh
!
such
generosity
overwhelmed
me
.
I
begged
to
be
allowed
to
hasten
and
throw
myself
at
the
feet
of
that
excellent
nobleman
;
but
Mr.
Pakenham
intimated
that
his
lordship
was
averse
to
an
interview
.
In
a
word
,
he
made
me
understand
that
I
might
never
hope
to
thank
my
benefactor
to
his
face
,
and
that
a
letter
expressing
my
feelings
would
be
equally
unwelcome
.
The
good
lawyer
,
however
,
tranquillised
my
mind
on
one
point
:
the
earl
has
no
aversion
to
me
—
entertains
no
animosity
against
me
;
but
he
cannot
bear
to
contemplate
the
offspring
of
the
woman
whom
he
himself
loved
so
madly
!
"
"
Thus
you
are
happy
,
and
blest
with
kind
friends
;
and
I
—
—
I
am
an
outcast
!
"
said
Stephens
,
in
a
tone
of
bitter
remorse
.
"
Oh
!
what
would
I
give
to
be
able
to
recall
the
past
!
Blessed
,
however
,
be
that
strange
and
unaccountable
curiosity
which
led
me
into
this
neighbourhood
to-night
!
I
say
,
blessed
be
it
—
since
it
has
been
the
unexpected
means
for
me
to
hear
and
know
that
you
at
least
are
happy
.
Oh
!
conceive
my
astonishment
when
,
on
approaching
the
villa
,
I
inquired
of
a
peasant
,
'
Who
dwells
there
now
?
'
and
he
replied
,
'
Miss
Sydney
!
'
I
could
not
mistake
that
announcement
:
I
was
already
prepared
by
it
for
the
narrative
which
you
have
given
me
of
the
Earl
of
Warrington
's
generosity
.
"
"
Without
him
,
what
should
I
be
at
this
moment
?
"
said
Eliza
.
"
He
has
been
more
than
a
friend
to
me
,
—
his
kindness
was
rather
that
of
a
father
or
a
brother
!
And
that
angel
Mrs.
Arlington
,
who
visited
me
in
prison
—
who
poured
consolation
into
my
soul
,
and
sustained
me
with
hopes
that
have
been
more
than
realised
,
—
oh
!
how
deep
a
debt
of
gratitude
do
I
owe
to
her
also
.
She
did
not
conceal
from
me
her
true
position
in
reference
to
the
Earl
of
Warrington
:
she
detailed
to
me
the
narrative
of
her
sorrows
;
and
I
learnt
that
George
Montague
was
the
base
deceiver
who
first
taught
her
to
stray
from
the
paths
of
virtue
.
"
"
George
Montague
!
"
exclaimed
Stephens
.
"
What
has
become
of
that
man
?
He
is
artful
,
talented
,
designing
,
and
might
perhaps
be
able
to
serve
me
if
he
would
.
"
"
He
has
assumed
,
I
am
told
,
the
name
of
Greenwood
,
and
dwells
in
a
magnificent
house
in
Spring
Gardens
.
This
I
learnt
from
Mrs.
Arlington
,
who
called
here
a
few
days
ago
.
She
also
informed
me
that
Montague
had
circulated
a
report
amongst
his
acquaintances
,
that
the
death
of
a
distant
relation
had
put
him
in
possession
of
considerable
property
,
and
rendered
the
assumption
of
the
name
of
Greenwood
an
indispensable
condition
of
its
enjoyment
.
"
"
And
thus
has
Montague
risen
,
"
said
Stephens
;
"
while
I
am
humbled
to
the
dust
!
His
intrigues
and
machinations
have
enriched
him
;
and
the
story
of
the
death
of
a
wealthy
relation
is
no
doubt
the
apology
for
the
sudden
display
of
the
treasures
he
has
been
amassing
for
the
last
four
or
five
years
.
Have
you
seen
him
lately
?
"
"
He
called
here
a
few
days
after
my
release
from
imprisonment
,
"
said
Eliza
,
with
a
slight
blush
;
"
but
I
did
not
choose
to
see
him
.
I
love
solitude
—
I
prefer
retirement
.
"
"
And
my
visit
has
most
disagreeably
intruded
upon
your
privacy
,
"
observed
Stephens
.
"
I
could
have
wished
to
have
seen
you
in
a
more
prosperous
state
,
for
your
own
sake
,
"
answered
Eliza
;
"
but
as
I
observed
just
now
,
I
would
rather
remember
the
kindnesses
I
have
received
at
your
hands
,
than
the
miseries
which
have
resulted
from
your
guilty
deception
.
If
with
my
modest
and
limited
means
I
can
assist
you
,
speak
!
What
do
you
propose
to
do
?
"
"
My
object
is
to
proceed
to
America
,
where
I
might
be
enabled
to
obtain
an
honest
livelihood
by
my
mercantile
experience
and
knowledge
.
Every
moment
that
I
prolong
my
stay
in
England
is
fraught
with
increased
peril
to
my
safety
;
for
were
I
captured
,
I
should
be
sent
back
to
that
far-off
clime
where
so
many
of
my
fellow-countrymen
endure
inconceivable
miseries
,
and
where
my
lot
would
become
terrible
indeed
.
"
"
I
will
assist
you
in
your
object
,
"
said
Eliza
.
"
Mr.
Pakenham
,
who
acts
as
my
banker
,
has
a
hundred
pounds
of
mine
in
his
hands
:
to-morrow
I
will
draw
that
amount
;
and
if
it
will
be
of
any
service
towards
the
accomplishment
of
your
plans
—
—
"
"
Oh
,
Eliza
!
how
can
I
sufficiently
express
my
gratitude
?
"
interrupted
Stephens
,
joy
and
hope
animating
his
care-worn
countenance
and
firing
his
sunken
eyes
.
"
Do
not
thank
me
,
"
said
Eliza
.
"
I
shall
be
happy
if
I
can
efface
one
wrinkle
from
the
brow
of
a
fellow-creature
.
For
your
present
necessities
take
this
,
"
—
and
she
handed
him
her
purse
.
"
To-morrow
evening
I
shall
expect
you
to
call
again
;
and
I
will
then
provide
you
with
the
means
to
seek
your
fortune
in
another
quarter
of
the
world
.
"
Stephens
shed
tears
as
he
received
the
purse
from
the
fair
hand
of
that
noble-hearted
woman
.
He
then
took
his
departure
with
a
heart
far
more
light
than
when
he
had
knocked
humbly
and
timidly
at
the
door
of
that
villa
an
hour
before
.
CHAPTER
XLVIII
.
MR.
GREENWOOD
'S
VISITORS
.
MR.
Greenwood
was
seated
in
his
study
the
morning
after
the
event
which
occupied
the
last
chapter
.
He
was
dressed
en
negligé
.
A
French
velvet
skull-cap
,
embroidered
with
gold
,
sate
upon
his
curled
and
perfumed
hair
:
a
sumptuous
brocade
silk
dressing-gown
was
confined
around
the
waist
by
a
gold
cord
with
large
tassels
hanging
almost
to
his
feet
:
his
shirt
collar
was
turned
down
over
a
plain
broad
black
riband
,
the
bow
of
which
was
fastened
with
a
diamond
broach
of
immense
value
;
and
on
his
fingers
were
costly
rings
,
sparkling
with
stones
of
corresponding
kind
and
worth
.
On
the
writing-table
an
elegant
French
watch
attached
to
a
long
gold
chain
,
lay
amidst
a
pile
of
letters
,
just
as
if
it
had
been
carelessly
tossed
there
.
A
cheque
,
partly
filled
up
for
a
thousand
guineas
,
—
several
bank-notes
,
and
some
loose
gold
,
were
lying
on
an
open
writing-desk
;
and
,
at
one
end
of
the
table
lay
,
in
seeming
confusion
,
a
number
of
visiting
cards
bearing
the
names
of
eminent
capitalists
,
wealthy
merchants
,
peers
,
and
members
of
Parliament
.
All
this
pell-mell
assemblage
of
proofs
of
wealth
and
tokens
of
high
acquaintance
,
was
only
apparent
—
and
not
real
.
It
was
a
portion
of
Mr.
Greenwood
's
system
—
one
of
the
principles
of
the
art
which
he
practised
in
deceiving
the
world
.
He
knew
none
of
the
capitalists
,
and
few
of
the
aristocrats
whose
cards
lay
upon
his
table
:
and
his
own
hand
had
arranged
the
manner
in
which
the
watch
,
the
cheque-book
,
and
the
money
were
tossing
about
.
Never
did
a
coquet
practise
a
particular
glance
,
attitude
,
or
mannerism
,
more
seriously
than
did
Mr.
Greenwood
these
little
artifices
which
,
however
trifling
they
may
appear
,
produced
an
immense
effect
upon
those
with
whom
he
had
to
deal
,
and
who
visited
him
in
that
study
.
Every
thing
he
did
was
the
result
of
a
calculation
,
and
had
an
aim
:
every
word
he
spoke
,
however
rapid
the
utterance
,
was
duly
weighed
and
measured
.
And
yet
at
this
time
the
man
who
thus
carried
his
knowledge
of
human
nature
even
to
the
most
ridiculous
niceties
,
was
only
in
his
twenty-eighth
year
.
How
perverted
were
great
talents
—
how
misapplied
an
extraordinary
quickness
of
apprehension
in
this
instance
!
Mr.
Greenwood
contemplated
the
arrangements
of
his
writing-table
with
calm
satisfaction
;
and
a
smile
of
triumph
curled
his
lip
as
he
thought
of
the
position
to
which
such
little
artifices
as
those
had
helped
to
raise
him
.
He
despised
the
world
:
he
laughed
at
society
;
and
he
cared
not
for
the
law
—
for
he
walked
boldly
up
to
the
extreme
verge
where
personal
security
ceased
and
peril
began
;
but
he
never
over-stepped
the
boundary
