graduallysunk
upon
his
knees
in
the
presence
of
that
benefactor
whom
even
a
rude
,
brutalized
,
and
savage
disposition
was
now
compelled
to
believe
to
be
something
more
than
man
!
"
This
,
sir
,
"
said
Benstead
,
glancing
his
eyes
around
,
and
touching
Markham
's
arm
to
direct
his
attention
to
the
scene
,
—
"
this
,
sir
,
is
doubtless
a
welcome
reward
for
all
your
goodness
.
"
Richard
hastily
brushed
away
a
tear
,
and
raising
Gibbet
from
his
adoring
posture
,
said
,
"
You
,
my
good
lad
,
possess
a
heart
worthy
of
a
nobleman
.
Look
upon
me
as
your
friend
!
"
Then
our
hero
caught
Smithers
by
the
hand
,
and
drawing
him
into
the
recess
of
a
window
,
whispered
in
a
low
and
rapid
tone
,
"
You
are
not
insensible
to
the
charms
of
being
useful
to
one
's
fellow-creatures
.
I
implore
you
to
renounce
your
fearful
calling
—
and
I
will
supply
you
with
the
means
to
enter
upon
some
other
pursuit
.
"
Smithers
did
not
answer
for
a
few
moments
:
he
appeared
to
reflect
profoundly
.
"
Yes
—
I
will
follow
your
advice
,
sir
,
"
he
at
length
said
:
"
but
not
quite
yet
!
I
must
hang
up
that
rector
—
and
then
,
then
I
will
abandon
the
calling
for
ever
!
"
With
these
words
the
executioner
turned
abruptly
away
,
caught
Gibbet
by
the
hand
,
and
hurried
from
the
room
.
A
few
minutes
afterwards
Richard
Markham
and
Benstead
also
took
their
departure
,
each
in
a
different
direction
;
but
the
police-officer
's
pocket
contained
substantial
proofs
of
our
hero
's
liberality
.
CHAPTER
CLIX
.
THE
INTERVIEW
.
A
week
passed
away
,
during
which
the
examination
of
Reginald
Tracy
took
place
before
the
police-magistrate
,
and
terminated
in
the
committal
of
the
rector
to
Newgate
.
The
whole
town
rang
with
the
extraordinary
events
which
had
led
to
this
crisis
in
the
career
of
a
man
whose
very
name
had
so
lately
inspired
respect
.
The
clergy
were
horror-struck
at
the
disgrace
brought
upon
their
cloth
by
this
terrific
explosion
;
for
people
grew
inclined
to
look
upon
real
ecclesiastical
sanctity
as
nothing
more
nor
less
than
a
garb
of
rank
hypocrisy
.
Some
ministers
of
the
gospel
,
more
daring
and
enthusiastic
than
the
rest
,
boldly
proclaimed
from
their
pulpits
that
Reginald
Tracy
was
a
saint
and
a
martyr
,
against
whom
a
horrible
conspiracy
had
been
concocted
in
order
to
remove
the
imputation
of
murder
from
the
young
female
who
had
been
discharged
,
and
fix
it
on
him
.
Other
clergymen
entered
into
learned
disquisitions
to
prove
that
Satan
must
have
obtained
especial
leave
from
God
,
as
in
the
case
of
Job
,
to
tempt
the
most
holy
and
pious
of
men
;
and
that
,
having
failed
to
seduce
him
from
the
right
path
,
the
Evil
One
had
accomplished
a
series
of
atrocities
all
so
artfully
arranged
as
to
fix
the
stain
upon
the
rector
of
St.
David
's
.
But
there
were
some
reverend
gentlemen
,
who
,
having
always
been
jealous
of
Reginald
Tracy
's
popularity
,
descanted
in
significant
terms
upon
the
shallowness
of
mere
eloquence
in
the
pulpit
,
and
the
folly
of
running
after
"
fashionable
preachers
.
"
One
venerable
and
holy
gentleman
,
who
had
been
married
three
times
,
and
had
received
from
his
wives
an
aggregate
of
seventeen
pledges
of
their
affection
,
bitterly
denounced
in
his
sermon
the
"
whitened
sepulchre
,
"
"
tinkling
cymbal
,
"
and
"
unclean
vessel
,
"
who
had
dared
to
set
his
face
against
the
sacred
institution
of
matrimony
.
The
fashionable
world
was
powerfully
excited
by
the
exposure
of
Reginald
Tracy
.
Some
wiseacres
shook
their
heads
,
and
observed
that
they
had
always
suspected
there
was
something
wrong
about
the
rector
;
others
plainly
asserted
that
they
had
even
prophesied
what
would
happen
some
day
.
The
fair
sex
all
agreed
that
it
was
a
great
pity
,
as
he
was
such
a
charming
preacher
and
such
a
handsome
man
!
The
press
was
not
idle
in
respect
to
the
business
.
The
newspapers
teemed
with
"
Latest
Particulars
;
"
and
all
the
penny-a-liners
in
London
were
on
the
alert
to
collate
additional
facts
.
Nine
out
of
ten
of
these
facts
,
however
,
turned
out
to
be
pure
fictions
.
One
journal
,
conducted
on
more
imaginative
principles
than
its
contemporaries
,
promulgated
a
new
discovery
which
it
had
made
in
respect
to
the
rector
's
history
,
and
coolly
fixed
upon
his
back
all
the
murders
which
had
occurred
in
the
metropolis
during
the
previous
dozen
years
,
and
the
perpetrators
of
which
had
never
yet
been
detected
.
Heaven
knows
Reginald
Tracy
was
bad
enough
;
but
if
one
believed
all
which
was
now
said
of
him
in
the
public
journals
,
no
monster
that
ever
disgraced
humanity
was
so
vile
as
he
.
Some
of
the
cheap
unstamped
periodicals
treated
their
readers
with
portraits
of
the
rector
;
and
as
very
few
of
the
artists
who
were
employed
to
draw
them
had
ever
seen
their
subject
,
and
were
now
unable
to
obtain
access
to
him
,
their
inventive
faculties
were
put
to
the
most
exciting
test
.
And
,
as
a
convincing
proof
that
no
two
persons
entertain
the
same
idea
of
an
object
which
they
have
never
seen
,
it
may
be
observed
that
there
was
a
most
extraordinary
variety
in
the
respective
characteristics
of
these
portraits
.
In
a
word
,
the
rector
's
name
engrossed
universal
attention
:
—
a
cheap
romance
was
issued
,
entitled
"
The
Murdered
Housekeeper
;
or
the
Corrupt
Clergyman
;
"
—
one
of
the
minor
theatres
attracted
crowded
houses
by
the
embodiment
of
the
particulars
of
the
case
in
a
melodrama
;
—
and
Madame
Tussaud
added
the
effigy
of
Reginald
Tracy
to
her
collection
of
wax-works
.
But
what
were
the
feelings
of
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
when
the
terrible
announcement
of
the
rector
's
arrest
met
her
ears
!
We
must
observe
that
when
she
first
heard
of
the
death
of
the
housekeeper
,
she
entertained
a
faint
suspicion
that
Reginald
,
and
not
Katherine
Wilmot
,
was
the
author
of
the
deed
.
But
while
the
young
girl
was
yet
in
prison
,
before
the
trial
,
and
when
Cecilia
and
the
rector
met
,
the
latter
so
eloquently
expatiated
upon
the
case
,
that
Cecilia
's
suspicions
were
hushed
;
and
she
learnt
to
look
upon
the
housekeeper
's
death
following
so
shortly
on
the
exposure
of
the
rector
's
hypocrisy
to
that
female
,
as
a
remarkable
coincidence
only
.
Moreover
,
the
rector
had
all
along
declared
his
impression
that
the
housekeeper
had
committed
suicide
,
and
that
the
innocence
of
Katherine
would
be
made
apparent
before
the
judges
.
Thus
Cecilia
's
mind
had
been
more
or
less
tranquillised
during
the
interval
which
occurred
between
the
housekeeper
's
death
and
the
day
of
trial
.
But
when
,
in
the
afternoon
of
the
day
on
which
that
trial
took
place
,
the
appalling
news
of
Katherine
's
acquittal
and
Reginald
's
arrest
reached
her
ears
,
she
was
thrown
into
a
state
of
the
most
painful
excitement
.
It
was
true
that
she
could
not
in
the
slightest
degree
be
implicated
in
the
enormous
crime
of
which
he
was
accused
:
but
would
her
guilty
connexion
with
him
transpire
?
Her
conscience
entertained
the
worst
forebodings
in
this
respect
.
At
one
moment
she
thought
of
hastening
to
visit
him
in
his
prison
:
then
she
reflected
that
such
a
course
would
only
encourage
a
suspicion
calculated
to
proclaim
that
scandal
which
she
was
so
anxious
to
avoid
.
Fortunately
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
was
still
away
from
home
,
with
his
friend
Chichester
,
and
thus
Lady
Cecilia
had
no
disagreeable
spy
to
witness
her
distressing
emotions
and
embarrassment
.
Day
after
day
passed
;
Reginald
had
been
committed
,
as
before
stated
,
to
Newgate
;
and
Cecilia
heard
nothing
from
him
.
At
length
at
the
expiration
of
a
week
from
the
day
of
his
arrest
,
a
dirty
,
shabby-looking
lad
called
in
Tavistock
Square
,
and
requested
to
see
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
alone
.
He
was
accordingly
admitted
to
her
presence
.
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
"
he
said
,
"
I
've
come
with
a
message
from
Mr.
Tracy
,
which
is
in
Newgate
.
He
is
a
wery
nice
gen'leman
,
and
is
certain
sure
to
be
hung
,
they
say
.
"
"
Who
are
you
?
"
demanded
Cecilia
,
with
ill-concealed
disgust
.
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
I
belong
to
an
eating-house
in
the
Old
Bailey
,
"
returned
the
boy
;
"
and
I
takes
in
Mr.
Tracy
's
meals
to
him
.
"
"
And
what
do
you
want
with
me
?
"
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
Mr.
Tracy
says
will
you
go
and
see
him
to-morrow
morning
between
ten
and
eleven
?
"
"
In
Newgate
!
"
ejaculated
Lady
Cecilia
,
with
an
unaffected
shudder
.
"
Oh
!
yes
,
ma'am
:
I
goes
in
there
three
times
every
day
o
'
my
life
;
and
so
I
'm
sure
you
need
n't
be
afraid
to
wisit
it
just
for
vonce
.
"
"
Well
—
I
will
think
of
it
.
Have
you
any
thing
else
to
say
to
me
?
"
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
Mr.
Tracy
says
that
you
've
no
call
to
give
your
own
name
at
the
gate
;
but
if
you
pass
yourself
off
as
his
sister
,
just
come
up
from
the
country
,
you
can
see
him
alone
in
his
cell
.
But
if
you
do
n't
do
that
you
'd
on'y
be
allowed
to
speak
to
him
through
the
bars
of
his
yard
.
He
would
have
wrote
to
you
,
but
then
the
letters
must
be
read
by
the
governor
before
they
goes
out
;
and
so
it
would
have
been
known
that
he
sent
to
you
.
He
never
thought
of
speaking
about
it
to
me
till
this
morning
;
and
I
promised
to
do
his
arrand
faithful
.
That
's
all
,
ma'am
.
"
"
And
enough
too
,
"
said
Lady
Cecilia
,
in
a
tone
of
deep
disgust
,
as
she
threw
the
lad
a
few
shillings
across
the
table
in
the
room
where
she
received
him
.
"
Is
there
any
message
,
ma'am
,
to
take
back
to
Mr.
Tracy
?
"
asked
the
boy
;
"
'
cos
I
shall
see
him
the
first
thing
in
the
morning
.
"
"
You
may
say
that
I
will
do
as
he
desires
,
"
answered
Cecilia
:
"
but
beware
how
you
mention
to
a
soul
that
you
have
been
here
.
Forget
my
name
as
if
you
had
never
heard
it
.
"
"
Yes
,
ma'am
—
to
be
sure
,
"
replied
the
boy
;
"
and
thank'ee
kindly
.
"
He
then
pocketed
the
money
,
and
took
his
departure
.
"
Newgate
,
Newgate
!
"
thought
Lady
Cecilia
,
when
she
was
once
more
alone
:
"
there
is
something
chilling
—
menacing
—
awful
in
that
name
!
And
yet
I
must
penetrate
into
those
gloomy
cells
to
see
—
whom
?
A
murderer
!
Oh
!
who
would
have
thought
that
the
rich
,
the
handsome
,
the
renowned
,
the
courted
,
the
flattered
rector
of
St.
David
's
would
become
an
inmate
of
Newgate
?
A
murderer
!
Ah
—
my
God
,
the
mere
idea
is
horrible
!
And
that
uncouth
boy
who
said
coolly
that
he
was
certain
to
be
hanged
!
Reginald
—
Reginald
,
to
what
have
you
come
?
Would
it
not
have
been
better
to
dare
exposure
—
contumely
—
infamy
—
reproach
,
than
to
risk
such
an
appalling
alternative
?
But
reputation
was
dearer
to
this
man
than
aught
in
the
world
beside
!
And
he
is
rich
:
—
what
will
he
do
with
his
wealth
?
Perhaps
it
is
for
that
he
desires
my
presence
?
Who
knows
?
"
This
idea
determined
Lady
Cecilia
upon
visiting
Newgate
on
the
following
day
.
She
did
not
reflect
that
she
herself
was
the
first
link
in
that
chain
which
had
so
rapidly
wound
itself
around
the
unhappy
man
,
until
it
paralysed
his
limbs
in
a
criminal
gaol
.
She
often
asked
herself
how
he
could
have
been
so
mad
as
to
commit
the
deed
that
menaced
him
with
the
most
terrible
fate
;
but
beyond
the
abstract
event
itself
she
never
thought
of
looking
.
The
morning
dawned
;
Lady
Cecilia
rose
,
and
dressed
herself
in
as
unpretending
a
manner
as
possible
.
At
half-past
nine
she
went
out
,
took
a
cab
at
the
nearest
stand
,
and
proceeded
to
Newgate
.
She
ascertained
,
by
inquiry
,
which
was
the
prison
entrance
,
and
ascended
the
steps
leading
to
the
half-door
,
the
top
of
which
was
garnished
with
long
iron
spikes
.
A
stout
,
red-faced
turnkey
,
with
a
good-tempered
countenance
,
admitted
her
into
the
obscure
lobby
,
behind
which
was
a
passage
where
a
gas-light
burns
all
day
long
.
"
Who
do
you
want
,
ma'am
?
"
said
the
turnkey
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Are
you
any
relation
to
him
?
"
"
His
sister
.
I
have
just
arrived
from
the
country
.
"
"
Please
to
write
your
name
down
in
this
book
.
"
Lady
Cecilia
,
who
seldom
lost
her
presence
of
mind
,
instantly
took
up
the
pen
,
and
wrote
down
"
Anne
Tracy
.
"
"
Excuse
me
,
ma'am
,
"
said
the
turnkey
,
"
but
if
you
have
any
knife
in
your
pocket
you
must
leave
it
here
.
"
"
I
have
none
,
"
answered
Cecilia
.
"
Take
that
passage
,
ma'am
,
and
you
will
find
a
turnkey
who
will
admit
you
to
Tracy
's
cell
.
"
All
titular
distinctions
are
dropped
in
Newgate
.
Lady
Cecilia
proceeded
along
the
passage
as
she
was
desired
,
and
at
length
reached
a
large
stone
vestibule
,
from
which
several
doors
opened
into
the
different
yards
in
that
part
of
the
building
.
She
accosted
a
turnkey
,
informing
him
whom
she
came
to
visit
;
and
he
bade
her
follow
him
.
In
a
few
moments
he
stopped
at
a
massive
door
,
opened
it
,
and
said
,
"
Walk
in
there
,
ma'am
.
"
She
advanced
a
few
steps
:
the
door
closed
behind
her
;
and
she
found
herself
in
the
presence
of
Reginald
Tracy
.
But
how
changed
was
he
!
His
cheeks
were
ghastly
pale
—
his
eyes
sunken
—
his
hair
was
in
disorder
—
his
person
dirty
and
neglected
.
"
This
is
kind
of
you
,
Cecilia
,
"
he
said
,
without
rising
from
his
chair
.
"
Sit
down
,
and
lose
no
time
in
conversing
—
we
have
not
much
time
to
be
together
.
"
"
Oh
,
Reginald
!
"
exclaimed
Cecilia
,
as
she
took
a
seat
,
"
what
a
place
for
us
to
meet
in
!
"
"
Now
do
not
give
way
to
ejaculations
and
laments
which
will
do
no
good
,
"
said
Reginald
.
"
If
you
can
maintain
your
tranquillity
it
will
be
advantageous
to
yourself
.
You
know
that
I
am
possessed
of
some
property
?
"
"
The
world
always
believed
you
to
be
rich
,
"
observed
Cecilia
.
"
I
have
lately
been
extravagant
,
"
continued
Reginald
:
"
still
I
have
a
handsome
fortune
remaining
.
As
I
am
not
yet
condemned
,
"
he
added
bitterly
,
"
I
can
leave
it
to
whom
I
choose
.
Do
you
wish
to
be
my
heiress
?
"
"
Ah
!
Reginald
—
this
proof
of
your
affection
—
—
"
"
No
superfluous
words
,
Cecilia
,
"
interrupted
the
rector
impatiently
.
"
If
you
wish
to
possess
my
wealth
you
must
render
me
a
service
—
an
important
service
,
to
merit
it
.
"
"
Any
thing
in
the
world
that
I
can
do
to
benefit
you
shall
be
performed
most
faithfully
,
"
said
Lady
Cecilia
.
"
And
you
will
not
shrink
from
the
service
which
I
demand
?
The
condition
is
no
light
one
.
"
"
Name
it
.
Whatever
it
be
,
I
will
accept
it
—
provided
that
it
do
not
involve
my
safety
,
"
returned
Cecilia
.
"
Selfishness
!
"
exclaimed
the
rector
contemptuously
.
"
Listen
attentively
.
To-morrow
my
solicitor
will
attend
upon
me
here
.
To
him
I
shall
make
over
all
my
property
—
in
trust
for
the
person
to
whom
I
choose
to
bequeath
it
.
He
is
an
honourable
man
,
and
will
faithfully
perform
my
wishes
.
I
have
not
a
relation
nor
a
friend
in
the
world
who
has
any
particular
claim
upon
me
.
I
can
constitute
you
my
heiress
:
at
my
death
,
"
he
added
slowly
,
"
all
I
possess
may
revert
to
you
,
—
the
world
remaining
in
ignorance
of
the
manner
in
which
I
have
disposed
of
my
wealth
.
But
if
I
thus
enrich
you
,
I
demand
from
your
hands
the
means
of
escaping
an
infamy
otherwise
inevitable
.
"
"
I
do
not
understand
you
,
"
said
Cecilia
,
somewhat
alarmed
.
The
rector
leant
forward
,
fixed
a
penetrating
glance
upon
his
mistress
,
and
said
in
a
hollow
and
subdued
tone
,
"
I
require
poison
—
a
deadly
poison
!
"
"
Poison
!
"
echoed
Cecilia
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
Yes
:
do
you
comprehend
me
now
?
Will
you
earn
wealth
by
rendering
me
that
service
?
"
he
asked
eagerly
.
"
What
poison
do
you
require
?
"
demanded
Cecilia
greatly
excited
.
"
Prussic
acid
:
it
is
the
most
certain
—
and
the
quickest
,
"
answered
the
rector
.
"
If
you
are
afraid
to
procure
it
yourself
,
the
old
hag
in
Golden
Lane
will
assist
you
in
that
respect
.
"
"
And
must
it
really
come
to
this
?
"
said
Cecilia
.
"
Is
all
hope
dead
?
"
"
My
doom
is
certain
—
if
I
live
to
meet
it
,
"
answered
Reginald
,
who
only
maintained
the
composure
which
he
now
displayed
by
the
most
desperate
efforts
to
subdue
his
emotions
.
"
The
evidence
is
too
damning
against
me
.
And
yet
I
imagined
that
I
had
adopted
such
precautions
!
"
he
continued
,
in
a
musing
tone
.
"
I
felt
so
confident
that
the
poor
,
old
woman
would
appear
to
have
died
by
her
own
hand
!
I
sent
the
footman
out
of
the
way
,
not
upon
a
frivolous
cause
,
but
on
an
errand
which
would
bear
scrutiny
.
I
made
the
housekeeper
herself
get
rid
of
Katherine
.
I
did
all
that
prudence
suggested
.
But
never
—
never
did
I
anticipate
that
another
would
be
charged
with
the
crime
!
And
yet
,
when
suspicion
attached
itself
so
strongly
to
that
poor
innocent
girl
,
what
could
I
do
?
I
had
but
two
alternatives
—
to
allow
her
to
suffer
,
or
to
immolate
myself
by
proclaiming
her
guiltlessness
.
Oh
!
Cecilia
,
you
know
not
—
you
cannot
conceive
all
that
I
have
suffered
since
that
fatal
evening
!
Often
and
often
was
I
on
the
point
of
going
forward
and
confessing
all
,
in
order
to
save
that
innocent
girl
.
But
I
had
not
the
courage
!
When
I
gave
my
testimony
,
I
rendered
it
as
favourable
towards
her
as
possible
.
I
laboured
hard
to
encourage
the
suspicion
that
the
deceased
had
been
her
own
destroyer
.
But
fate
had
ordained
that
all
should
transpire
.
"
He
paused
,
and
buried
his
face
in
his
hands
.
A
sob
escaped
his
breast
.
"
This
is
childish
—
this
is
foolish
in
the
extreme
,
"
he
suddenly
cried
.
"
Time
is
passing
—
and
you
have
not
yet
decided
whether
you
will
render
me
the
service
I
require
,
upon
the
consideration
of
inheriting
all
my
wealth
.
"
"
I
will
do
what
you
ask
of
me
,
"
said
Cecilia
,
in
a
low
but
decided
tone
.
"
And
do
not
attempt
to
deceive
me
,
"
continued
Reginald
;
"
for
if
you
bring
me
a
harmless
substitute
for
a
deadly
poison
,
you
will
frustrate
my
design
,
it
is
true
—
but
I
shall
live
to
revoke
the
bequest
made
in
your
favour
.
"
"
I
will
not
deceive
you
,
Reginald
—
if
you
be
indeed
determined
,
"
said
his
mistress
.
"
I
am
determined
.
We
now
understand
each
other
:
to
me
the
poison
—
to
you
the
wealth
.
"
"
Agreed
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
The
day
after
to-morrow
you
will
return
—
provided
with
what
I
require
?
"
said
Reginald
.
"
You
may
rely
upon
me
.
"
"
Then
farewell
,
Cecilia
,
for
the
present
.
"
The
rector
offered
the
lady
his
hand
:
Cecilia
pressed
it
with
affected
fervour
,
though
in
reality
she
almost
recoiled
from
the
touch
.
Profligate
as
she
was
,
she
had
no
sincere
sympathy
for
a
murderer
.
Nor
was
she
sorry
when
she
once
more
found
herself
beyond
the
terrible
walls
of
Newgate
.
CHAPTER
CLX
.
THE
RECTOR
IN
NEWGATE
.
Reginald
Tracy
awoke
early
on
the
morning
when
Cecilia
was
to
return
to
him
.
He
had
been
dreaming
of
delicious
scenes
and
voluptuous
pleasures
;
and
he
opened
his
eyes
to
the
fearful
realities
of
Newgate
.
He
clasped
his
hands
together
with
the
convulsiveness
of
ineffable
mental
agony
;
and
the
smile
that
had
played
upon
his
lips
in
his
elysian
dream
,
was
suddenly
changed
into
the
contortion
of
an
anguish
that
could
know
no
earthly
mitigation
.
"
Fool
—
madman
that
I
have
been
!
"
he
exclaimed
aloud
,
in
a
piercing
tone
of
despair
.
"
From
what
a
brilliant
position
have
I
fallen
!
Wealth
—
pleasure
—
fame
—
love
—
life
,
all
about
to
pass
away
!
The
entire
fabric
destroyed
by
my
own
hands
!
Oh
!
wretch
—
senseless
idiot
—
miserable
fool
that
I
have
been
!
But
is
it
really
true
?
—
can
it
be
as
it
seems
to
me
?
Have
I
done
the
deed
?
Am
I
here
—
here
,
in
Newgate
?
Or
is
it
all
a
dream
?
Perhaps
I
have
gone
suddenly
mad
,
and
my
crime
and
its
consequences
are
only
the
inventions
of
my
disordered
imagination
?
Yes
—
it
may
be
so
;
and
this
is
a
mad-house
!
"
Then
the
rector
sate
up
in
his
bed
,
and
glanced
wildly
around
the
cell
.
"
No
—
no
!
"
he
cried
with
a
shriek
of
despair
;
"
I
cannot
delude
myself
thus
.
I
am
indeed
a
murderer
—
and
this
is
Newgate
!
"
He
threw
himself
back
on
the
rude
bolster
,
and
covered
his
face
with
his
hands
.
But
though
he
closed
his
eyes
,
and
pressed
his
fingers
upon
the
lids
until
the
balls
throbbed
beneath
,
he
could
not
shut
out
from
his
mind
the
horrors
of
his
position
.
"
Oh
!
this
is
insupportable
!
"
he
cried
,
and
then
rolled
upon
his
bed
in
convulsions
of
rage
:
he
gnashed
his
teeth
—
he
beat
his
brow
—
he
tore
his
hair
—
he
clenched
his
fists
with
the
fury
of
a
demon
.
His
emotions
were
terrible
.
He
seemed
like
a
wild
beast
caught
in
a
net
whose
meshes
were
inextricable
.
Then
a
rapid
reaction
took
place
in
that
man
of
powerful
passion
;
and
he
grew
exhausted
—
humble
—
and
penitent
.
"
O
God
,
have
mercy
upon
me
!
"
he
said
,
joining
his
hands
in
prayer
.
"
I
have
grievously
offended
against
thee
:
oh
!
have
mercy
upon
me
.
Why
didst
thou
permit
me
to
fall
?
Was
I
not
enthusiastic
in
thy
cause
?
O
heaven
,
have
mercy
upon
me
!
"
This
short
prayer
,
in
which
reproach
and
intercession
were
commingled
,
was
said
with
profound
sincerity
.
But
the
image
of
Cecilia
suddenly
sprang
up
in
the
rector
's
imagination
;
and
then
his
entire
form
once
more
became
convulsed
with
rage
.
"
That
wretch
—
that
adulteress
was
my
ruin
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
clenching
his
fist
so
violently
that
the
nails
of
his
fingers
almost
penetrated
into
his
palms
.
"
I
was
virtuous
and
untainted
until
I
knew
her
.
She
led
me
astray
:
she
taught
me
the
enjoyment
of
those
pleasures
which
have
proved
so
fatal
to
me
!
The
wretch
—
the
adulteress
!
And
to
be
condemned
the
day
before
yesterday
to
maintain
a
forced
calmness
towards
her
!
Oh
!
I
could
tear
her
limb
from
limb
:
I
could
dig
my
nails
into
the
flesh
whose
dazzling
whiteness
and
whose
charms
were
wont
to
plunge
my
soul
in
ecstacies
.
The
foul
—
the
vile
creature
!
May
she
die
in
a
dungeon
,
as
I
shall
die
:
no
,
may
she
rot
upon
the
straw
—
may
she
perish
by
degrees
—
of
starvation
,
—
a
cruel
,
lingering
death
of
agony
!
Had
I
never
known
her
,
I
should
yet
be
on
the
pinnacle
of
pride
and
fortune
,
—
yet
be
respected
and
adored
!
Ah
!
these
thoughts
drive
me
mad
—
mad
.
"
And
again
he
beat
his
forehead
and
his
breast
:
again
he
tore
his
hair
,
and
writhed
convulsively
on
his
bed
.
"
Senseless
idiot
that
I
have
been
!
"
he
continued
.
"
Better
—
better
far
were
it
to
have
thrown
off
the
mask
—
to
have
dared
the
world
!
I
was
rich
—
and
I
was
independent
.
I
might
have
lived
a
life
of
luxury
and
ease
,
pleasure
and
enjoyment
;
—
but
I
was
too
weak
to
risk
exposure
.
And
that
poor
old
woman
whom
I
destroyed
—
was
she
not
devoted
to
me
!
would
she
have
proclaimed
my
hypocrisy
?
My
conscience
made
me
behold
every
thing
in
its
worst
light
.
I
anticipated
complete
security
in
her
death
.
And
now
I
must
die
myself
,
—
give
up
this
bright
and
beautiful
world
in
the
prime
of
my
existence
,
—
abandon
all
earth
's
pleasures
and
enjoyments
in
the
vigour
of
my
days
!
Senseless
idiot
that
I
was
to
suppose
that
murder
could
be
perpetrated
so
easily
—
to
imagine
that
the
finger
of
God
would
not
point
to
me
,
as
much
as
to
say
'
That
is
the
man
.
'
Yes
—
though
millions
be
assembled
together
in
one
vast
crowd
,
the
hand
of
the
Almighty
will
single
out
the
ruthless
murderer
!
"
The
rector
ceased
,
and
lay
for
some
instants
still
and
motionless
.
But
his
mind
was
fearfully
active
.
"
Had
not
all
this
occurred
,
"
he
thought
within
himself
,
"
I
should
now
be
awaking
,
in
my
comfortable
chamber
,
to
a
day
which
would
be
marked
with
the
same
happiness
and
security
that
other
men
are
now
enjoying
.
I
should
be
free
to
go
out
and
come
in
at
will
—
free
to
walk
hither
and
thither
as
I
might
choose
.
I
should
not
have
death
staring
me
in
the
face
,
as
at
present
!
I
should
be
able
to
say
with
confidence
,
'
To-morrow
I
will
do
this
,
'
and
'
Next
day
I
will
do
that
.
'
I
should
be
my
own
master
,
possessed
of
all
that
can
make
man
happy
.
But
,
now
—
now
what
a
wretch
I
am
!
Confined
to
these
four
walls
—
a
mere
automaton
that
must
eat
and
drink
when
a
gaoler
chooses
!
"
These
thoughts
were
too
heart-rending
for
the
miserable
man
to
endure
;
and
,
starting
from
his
bed
,
he
threw
on
his
clothes
with
a
rapidity
that
denoted
the
feverish
state
of
his
mind
.
The
clock
struck
eight
;
and
his
breakfast
was
brought
to
him
.
"
How
many
times
more
shall
I
hear
that
sound
?
"
he
asked
himself
.
"
Once
how
welcome
were
the
notes
of
bells
to
my
ears
!
With
what
happiness
did
I
obey
their
summons
to
that
church
to
which
crowds
flocked
to
hear
me
!
Oh
!
what
calm
,
what
peaceful
enjoyments
were
mine
then
—
in
the
days
of
my
innocence
!
And
those
days
are
gone
—
never
to
return
!
No
human
power
can
restore
me
to
those
enjoyments
and
to
that
innocence
;
and
God
will
not
do
it
!
"
Thus
passed
the
time
of
this
truly
wretched
man
.
At
length
the
clock
struck
nine
—
next
ten
.
"
Will
she
come
?
"
he
said
,
as
he
paced
his
cell
with
agitated
steps
.
"
Or
will
she
be
afraid
of
compromising
herself
?
And
yet
she
must
have
confidence
in
me
:
I
have
acted
in
a
manner
to
inspire
it
.
I
suffered
her
to
believe
that
it
was
out
of
regard
for
her
that
I
did
not
write
to
her
,
and
that
I
recommended
her
to
pass
in
as
my
sister
.
The
vile
wretch
!
she
little
knows
that
all
this
was
the
result
of
calculation
on
my
part
!
If
I
had
shown
myself
indifferent
to
her
reputation
—
careless
of
her
name
,
—
she
would
not
have
so
readily
consented
to
do
my
bidding
.
Perhaps
she
would
never
have
come
to
me
at
all
!
Now
she
believes
that
I
am
anxious
to
avert
the
breath
of
scandal
from
herself
;
and
she
will
serve
me
:
yes
—
I
feel
convinced
that
she
will
come
!
"
Nor
was
Reginald
mistaken
.
Scarcely
had
he
arrived
at
that
point
in
his
musings
,
when
the
bolts
of
his
cell
were
drawn
back
,
and
Lady
Cecilia
entered
the
dungeon
.
"
You
are
true
to
your
promise
,
"
said
the
rector
.
"
Yes
—
I
would
not
fail
you
,
"
answered
Cecilia
,
throwing
herself
into
a
chair
:
"
but
I
tremble
—
oh
!
I
tremble
like
a
leaf
.
"
"
Have
you
brought
—
it
?
"
asked
Reginald
in
a
hollow
tone
.
Cecilia
drew
from
her
bosom
a
small
crystal
phial
,
and
handed
it
to
the
rector
.
He
greedily
withdrew
the
cork
,
and
placed
the
bottle
to
his
nostrils
.
"
Yes
—
you
have
not
deceived
me
!
Now
—
now
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
as
he
carefully
concealed
the
phial
about
his
person
,
"
I
am
the
master
of
my
own
destinies
!
"
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
his
countenance
was
animated
with
an
expression
of
diabolical
triumph
.
Cecilia
was
alarmed
.
"
My
God
,
what
have
I
done
?
"
she
cried
;
"
perhaps
I
have
involved
myself
—
—
"
"
Set
aside
these
selfish
considerations
,
"
said
the
rector
;
"
you
have
earned
wealth
—
for
I
have
kept
my
promise
—
I
have
bequeathed
all
my
fortune
to
you
.
"
"
Do
not
imagine
that
I
shall
ever
receive
enjoyment
from
its
possession
,
dear
Reginald
,
"
returned
Cecilia
,
affecting
a
tenderness
of
tone
and
manner
which
she
did
not
feel
.
"
Oh
!
I
know
your
good
heart
,
beloved
Cecilia
,
"
exclaimed
the
rector
;
and
as
she
cast
down
her
eyes
beneath
his
looks
,
he
glared
upon
her
for
a
moment
with
the
ferocity
of
a
tiger
.
"
But
you
will
be
surprised
—
yes
,
agreeably
surprised
,
"
he
added
composedly
,
"
when
you
call
upon
my
solicitor
—
which
you
must
do
to-morrow
!
Here
is
his
address
.
"
"
To-morrow
!
"
echoed
Cecilia
,
turning
deadly
pale
.
"
You
cannot
mean
to
—
—
to
—
—
"
"
To
take
this
poison
to
day
?
"
said
Reginald
.
"
Yes
—
this
evening
at
seven
o'clock
you
may
pray
for
my
soul
!
"
"
Oh
!
this
is
,
indeed
,
dreadful
!
"
cried
Cecilia
.
"
Give
me
back
that
phial
—
or
I
will
raise
an
alarm
!
"
"
Foolish
woman
!
Will
you
not
be
worth
twenty
thousand
pounds
!
"
ejaculated
Reginald
.
"
And
fear
not
that
you
will
be
compromised
.
I
shall
leave
upon
this
table
a
letter
that
will
exculpate
you
from
any
suspicion
of
having
been
the
bearer
to
me
of
the
means
of
self-destruction
—
even
if
it
be
discovered
who
it
was
that
visited
me
here
as
my
alleged
sister
.
"
"
This
consideration
on
your
part
is
truly
generous
,
Reginald
,
"
said
Cecilia
,
in
whose
breast
the
mention
of
the
twenty
thousand
pounds
had
stifled
all
compunction
.
"
We
must
now
part
,
Cecilia
—
part
for
ever
,
"
observed
the
rector
.
"
Go
—
do
not
offer
to
embrace
me
—
I
could
not
bear
it
!
"
"
Then
farewell
,
Reginald
—
farewell
!
"
exclaimed
Cecilia
,
who
was
not
sorry
to
escape
a
ceremony
which
she
had
anticipated
with
horror
—
for
the
idea
that
her
paramour
was
a
murderer
was
ever
present
in
her
mind
.
"
Farewell
,
Cecilia
,
"
added
the
rector
;
and
he
turned
his
back
to
the
door
.
In
another
moment
she
was
gone
.
"
Thank
heaven
that
I
was
enabled
to
master
my
rage
,
"
cried
Reginald
,
when
he
was
once
more
alone
.
"
Oh
!
how
I
longed
to
fall
upon
her
—
to
tear
her
to
pieces
!
The
selfish
harlot
—
as
if
I
could
not
read
her
soul
now
—
as
if
I
were
any
longer
her
dupe
.
But
I
shall
be
avenged
upon
her
—
I
shall
be
avenged
!
My
death
will
be
the
signal
of
her
exposure
—
my
dissolution
will
be
the
beginning
of
her
shame
!
Oh
!
deeply
shall
she
rue
every
caress
she
has
lavished
upon
me
—
every
accursed
wile
that
she
practised
to
ensnare
me
!
Her
blandishments
will
turn
to
moans
and
tears
—
her
smiles
to
the
contortions
of
hell
.
The
fascinating
syren
shall
become
the
mark
for
every
scornful
finger
.
Fool
that
she
is
—
to
think
I
would
die
unavenged
!
If
my
existence
be
cut
short
suddenly
—
hers
shall
be
dragged
out
in
sorrow
and
despair
.
"
Then
the
rector
paced
his
cell
,
while
from
his
breast
escaped
a
hoarse
sound
like
the
low
growling
of
a
wild
beast
.
But
we
will
not
dwell
upon
the
wretched
man
's
thoughts
and
words
throughout
that
long
day
.
Evening
came
.
Six
o'clock
struck
;
and
Reginald
feared
no
farther
interruption
from
the
turnkeys
.
He
then
sate
down
to
write
two
letters
.
Having
occupied
himself
in
this
manner
for
a
short
time
,
he
sealed
the
letters
,
and
addressed
them
.
When
this
task
was
accomplished
,
he
felt
more
composed
and
calm
than
he
had
done
during
the
day
.
He
walked
three
or
four
times
up
and
down
his
cell
.
Then
he
fell
upon
his
knees
,
and
prayed
fervently
.
Yes
—
fervently
!
Seven
o'clock
struck
.
"
Now
is
the
hour
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
rising
from
his
suppliant
posture
near
the
bed
.
He
took
the
bottle
from
his
pocket
:
a
convulsive
shudder
passed
over
him
as
he
handled
the
fatal
phial
whose
contents
were
to
sever
the
chain
which
bound
his
spirit
to
the
earth
.
Then
he
felt
weak
and
nervous
;
and
he
sate
down
.
"
My
courage
is
failing
,
"
he
said
to
himself
:
"
I
must
not
delay
another
moment
.
"
But
he
still
hesitated
for
a
minute
!
"
No
—
no
!
"
he
exclaimed
,
as
if
in
answer
to
an
idea
which
had
occupied
him
during
that
interval
;
"
there
is
no
hope
!
My
fate
would
be
—
—
the
scaffold
!
"
This
thought
nerved
him
with
courage
to
execute
his
desperate
purpose
.
He
raised
the
phial
to
his
lips
,
and
swallowed
the
contents
—
greedy
of
every
drop
.
In
a
few
seconds
he
fell
from
his
chair
—
a
heavy
,
lifeless
mass
—
upon
the
floor
of
the
dungeon
.
CHAPTER
CLXI
.
LADY
CECILIA
HARBOROUGH
.
Cecilia
passed
a
sleepless
and
agitated
night
.
Wild
hopes
and
undefined
fears
had
banished
repose
from
her
pillow
.
She
thought
the
morning
would
never
come
.
At
length
the
first
gleam
of
dawn
struggled
through
the
windows
of
her
bed-room
;
and
she
instantly
arose
.
She
was
pale
—
yet
fearfully
excited
;
and
there
was
a
wildness
in
her
eyes
which
denoted
the
most
cruel
suspense
.
The
minutes
seemed
to
be
hours
;
for
she
was
now
anxiously
awaiting
the
arrival
of
the
morning
paper
.
She
descended
to
the
breakfast
parlour
;
but
the
repast
remained
untouched
.
At
length
the
well-known
knock
of
the
news-boy
at
the
front
door
echoed
through
the
house
.
The
moment
the
journal
was
placed
on
the
table
by
her
side
,
Cecilia
took
it
up
with
trembling
hands
,
and
cast
a
hasty
glance
over
its
contents
.
In
another
instant
all
suspense
relative
to
the
rector
's
fate
ceased
.
The
following
words
settled
that
point
beyond
a
doubt
:
—
"
SUICIDE
OF
THE
REV.
REGINALD
TRACY
.
"
Shortly
after
eight
o'clock
last
evening
a
rumour
was
in
circulation
,
to
the
effect
that
the
above-mentioned
individual
,
whose
name
has
so
recently
been
brought
before
the
public
in
connection
with
the
murder
of
Matilda
Kenrick
,
had
put
a
period
to
his
existence
by
means
of
poison
.
It
appears
that
the
turnkey
,
on
visiting
his
cell
,
according
to
custom
,
at
eight
o'clock
,
found
him
stretched
upon
the
floor
,
to
all
appearances
quite
dead
.
Medical
aid
was
immediately
procured
;
but
life
was
pronounced
by
the
gaol-surgeon
to
be
totally
extinct
.
We
have
been
unable
to
learn
any
further
particulars
.
"
"
It
is
better
so
,
than
to
die
upon
the
scaffold
,
"
said
Cecilia
to
herself
.
"
Now
to
the
lawyer
's
:
Reginald
expressly
told
me
that
I
was
to
call
upon
him
this
morning
.
"
The
heartless
woman
did
not
drop
a
tear
nor
heave
a
sigh
to
the
memory
of
her
paramour
.
She
rang
the
bell
and
desired
the
servant
to
fetch
a
cab
without
delay
.
By
the
time
it
arrived
Cecilia
was
ready
.
During
the
rapid
drive
to
the
City
,
she
arranged
a
thousand
plans
for
the
employment
and
enjoyment
of
the
wealth
which
she
believed
herself
to
be
now
entitled
to
,
and
the
bequest
of
which
she
was
resolved
to
conceal
from
her
husband
.
When
she
alighted
at
the
solicitor
's
door
,
she
assumed
a
melancholy
and
solemn
air
,
which
she
thought
decorous
under
the
circumstances
.
The
solicitor
,
who
was
an
elderly
man
,
and
whose
name
was
Wharton
,
received
her
in
his
private
office
,
and
politely
inquired
the
nature
of
her
business
.
"
Did
you
not
expect
a
visit
from
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
this
morning
?
"
asked
the
frail
woman
.
"
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
!
"
exclaimed
the
lawyer
,
his
countenance
assuming
a
severe
tone
the
moment
that
name
fell
upon
his
ears
.
"
Are
you
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
?
"
"
I
am
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
So
young
—
and
yet
so
powerful
to
work
evil
!
"
observed
Mr.
Wharton
,
in
a
musing
tone
,
and
with
a
sorrowful
air
.
"
I
do
not
understand
you
,
sir
,
"
exclaimed
Cecilia
somewhat
alarmed
,
yet
affecting
a
haughty
and
offended
manner
.
"
Do
not
aggravate
your
wickedness
by
means
of
falsehood
,
"
said
the
lawyer
sternly
.
"
Think
you
that
I
am
a
stranger
to
your
connexion
with
that
unhappy
man
who
died
by
his
own
hands
last
night
?
I
have
known
him
for
many
years
—
I
knew
him
when
he
was
pure
,
honourable
,
and
respected
:
I
have
seen
him
the
inmate
of
a
dungeon
.
The
day
before
yesterday
I
was
with
him
for
the
last
time
.
He
then
revealed
to
me
every
particular
connected
with
his
fall
.
He
told
me
how
you
practised
your
syren
arts
upon
him
—
how
you
led
him
on
,
until
he
became
an
adulterer
!
He
explained
to
me
how
he
repented
of
his
first
weakness
,
and
how
you
practised
a
vile
—
a
detestable
artifice
,
by
the
aid
of
an
old
hag
in
Golden
Lane
,
to
bring
him
back
to
your
arms
.
"
"
Spare
me
this
recital
,
sir
,
which
has
been
so
highly
coloured
to
my
prejudice
,
"
exclaimed
Lady
Cecilia
.
"
I
confess
that
I
was
enamoured
of
that
unhappy
man
;
but
—
—
"
"
You
cannot
palliate
your
wickedness
,
madam
,
"
interrupted
Mr.
Wharton
,
sternly
.
"
Mr.
Tracy
detailed
to
me
every
blandishment
you
used
—
every
art
you
called
into
force
to
subdue
him
.
And
as
for
your
love
for
him
,
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
—
even
that
excuse
cannot
be
advanced
in
extenuation
of
your
infamy
.
"
"
Sir
—
that
is
a
harsh
word
!
"
cried
Cecilia
,
red
with
indignation
,
and
starting
upon
her
chair
.
"
Nay
,
madam
—
sit
still
,
"
continued
the
solicitor
:
"
you
may
yet
hear
harsher
terms
from
my
lips
.
I
say
that
you
cannot
even
plead
a
profound
and
sincere
attachment
to
that
man
as
an
excuse
for
the
arts
which
you
practised
to
ensnare
and
ruin
him
:
—
no
,
madam
—
it
was
his
gold
which
you
coveted
!
"
"
Sir
—
I
will
hear
no
more
—
I
—
—
"
"
Your
ladyship
must
hear
me
out
,
"
interrupted
the
lawyer
,
authoritatively
motioning
her
to
retain
her
seat
.
"
When
alone
in
his
gloomy
cell
,
your
victim
pondered
upon
all
that
had
passed
between
him
and
you
,
until
he
came
to
a
full
and
entire
comprehension
of
the
utter
hollowness
of
your
heart
.
He
then
understood
how
he
had
been
duped
and
deluded
by
you
!
Moreover
,
madam
,
it
was
by
your
desire
that
he
admitted
you
into
his
own
house
—
that
fatal
indiscretion
which
,
being
often
repeated
,
at
length
led
to
the
terrible
catastrophe
.
Now
,
then
,
madam
,
"
cried
Mr.
Wharton
,
raising
his
voice
,
"
who
was
the
real
cause
of
my
friend
's
downfall
?
who
was
the
origin
of
his
ruin
?
who
,
in
a
word
,
is
the
murderess
of
Reginald
Tracy
?
"
"
My
God
!
"
ejaculated
the
wretched
woman
,
quivering
like
an
aspen
beneath
these
appalling
denunciations
;
"
you
are
very
severe
—
too
,
too
harsh
upon
me
,
sir
!
"
"
No
,
madam
,
"
resumed
the
lawyer
;
"
I
am
merely
placing
your
conduct
in
its
true
light
,
and
giving
your
deeds
their
proper
name
.
You
had
no
mercy
upon
my
unfortunate
friend
;
—
you
sacrificed
him
to
your
base
lust
after
gold
;
—
you
hurried
him
on
to
his
doom
.
Why
should
I
spare
you
?
You
have
no
claims
upon
my
forbearance
as
a
woman
—
because
,
madam
,
your
unmitigated
wickedness
debars
you
from
the
privilege
of
your
sex
.
To
show
courtesy
to
you
,
would
be
to
encourage
crime
of
the
most
abhorrent
nature
.
"
"
Was
it
to
be
thus
upbraided
,
sir
—
thus
reviled
,
"
demanded
Lady
Cecilia
,
endeavouring
to
recover
her
self-possession
,
"
that
I
was
desired
to
call
upon
you
this
morning
?
"
"
Desired
to
call
upon
me
,
madam
!
"
exclaimed
the
solicitor
:
"
who
conveyed
to
you
such
instructions
?
"
"
Mr.
Tracy
himself
,
"
answered
Cecilia
in
a
faint
tone
—
for
she
now
trembled
lest
Reginald
had
deceived
her
.
"
Then
my
poor
friend
must
have
been
aware
of
the
reception
which
you
would
meet
at
my
hands
—
of
the
stern
truths
that
you
would
hear
from
my
lips
,
"
said
Mr.
Wharton
;
"
for
to
no
other
purpose
could
this
visit
have
been
designed
.
"
"
But
—
are
there
no
written
instructions
—
with
which
you
may
be
as
yet
unacquainted
—
no
papers
,
the
contents
of
which
you
have
not
read
—
—
"
"
Madam
,
I
am
at
a
loss
to
comprehend
you
,
"
said
the
lawyer
.
"
If
you
allude
to
any
papers
of
Mr.
Tracy
's
now
in
my
hands
,
I
can
assure
you
that
they
bear
no
reference
to
any
affairs
in
which
you
can
possibly
be
interested
.
"
"
And
you
have
read
all
those
papers
—
every
one
—
the
last
that
was
placed
in
your
hands
,
as
well
as
any
others
?
"
inquired
Cecilia
,
in
a
tone
of
breathless
excitement
.
"
Merciful
heavens
,
madam
!
"
ejaculated
the
lawyer
,
on
whose
mind
a
light
seemed
suddenly
to
break
:
"
surely
—
surely
you
cannot
be
in
expectation
of
a
legacy
or
a
boon
from
that
man
whom
you
hurried
to
his
ruin
—
aye
,
even
to
murder
and
suicide
?
Surely
your
presumption
is
not
so
boundless
as
all
that
?
"
Cecilia
sank
back
,
almost
fainting
in
her
chair
:
her
sole
hope
was
now
annihilated
;
and
in
its
stead
there
remained
to
her
only
the
bitter
—
bitter
conviction
that
she
had
been
deceived
by
Reginald
in
that
last
transaction
which
took
place
between
them
.
"
No
,
madam
—
no
,
"
continued
the
lawyer
,
with
a
smile
of
the
most
cutting
contempt
:
"
if
that
unhappy
man
had
bequeathed
you
any
thing
,
it
would
have
been
his
curse
—
his
withering
,
dying
curse
!
"
"
Oh
!
do
not
say
that
,
"
screamed
Cecilia
,
now
really
appalled
by
the
energetic
language
of
that
man
who
was
so
unsparing
in
his
duty
to
the
memory
of
his
friend
.
"
Ah
!
I
am
rejoiced
that
your
ladyship
at
last
feels
the
full
force
of
that
infamy
which
has
accomplished
the
ruin
of
a
man
once
so
good
,
so
upright
,
so
honourable
,
so
happy
!
But
you
are
,
no
doubt
,
curious
to
know
how
your
victim
has
disposed
of
that
wealth
of
which
you
would
have
plundered
him
had
he
not
been
so
suddenly
stopped
in
his
mad
career
?
I
will
tell
you
.
He
has
bequeathed
it
to
that
young
girl
who
so
nearly
suffered
for
his
crime
—
to
Katherine
Wilmot
,
who
was
so
unjustly
accused
of
the
enormity
which
he
perpetrated
!
"
Lady
Cecilia
wept
with
rage
,
shame
,
and
disappointment
.
"
Weep
,
madam
,
weep
,
"
rang
the
iron
voice
of
that
stern
denunciator
once
more
in
her
ears
:
"
weep
—
for
you
have
good
cause
!
Not
for
the
wealth
of
the
universe
would
I
harbour
the
feelings
which
ought
to
be
—
must
be
yours
at
this
moment
.
"
A
pause
ensued
,
which
was
interrupted
by
the
entrance
of
a
clerk
who
whispered
something
in
the
lawyer
's
ear
,
and
then
withdrew
.
"
I
request
your
ladyship
to
have
the
goodness
to
remain
here
until
my
return
,
"
said
Mr.
Wharton
.
"
I
shall
not
keep
you
long
.
"
The
lawyer
passed
into
the
outer
office
;
and
Cecilia
was
now
alone
.
The
reader
can
scarcely
require
to
be
reminded
that
this
lady
was
not
one
who
was
likely
to
remain
long
depressed
by
a
moral
lesson
,
however
severe
its
nature
.
Scarcely
had
the
lawyer
left
her
,
when
she
raised
her
head
,
and
thought
within
herself
,
"
I
have
been
deceived
—
cruelly
deceived
;
and
if
I
did
Reginald
any
wrong
,
he
is
amply
avenged
.
One
thing
seems
certain
—
he
has
retained
the
secret
of
the
means
by
which
he
obtained
the
poison
.
He
has
not
compromised
me
there
;
or
else
this
harsh
man
would
have
been
only
too
glad
to
throw
that
also
in
my
teeth
.
Thus
,
my
position
might
have
been
worse
!
"
Such
was
the
substance
of
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
's
musing
during
the
absence
of
the
lawyer
.
This
absence
lasted
nearly
a
quarter
of
an
hour
;
and
then
he
returned
to
the
office
.
He
held
an
open
letter
in
his
hand
.
"
Lady
Cecilia
Harborough
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
tone
of
increased
sternness
,
"
the
measure
of
your
guilt
is
now
so
full
,
that
justice
demands
an
explanation
at
your
hands
.
"
"
Justice
,
sir
!
"
faltered
the
frail
woman
,
an
icy
coldness
striking
to
her
heart
.
"
Yes
,
madam
,
"
answered
the
lawyer
;
"
and
even
from
the
grave
will
the
wrongs
of
Reginald
Tracy
cry
out
against
you
.
"
"
My
God
!
what
do
you
mean
?
"
she
exclaimed
,
her
pallor
now
becoming
actually
livid
.
"
Before
Reginald
Tracy
took
the
poison
which
hurried
him
to
his
last
account
,
"
continued
the
solicitor
in
a
low
and
solemn
tone
,
"
he
wrote
two
letters
.
These
were
found
upon
the
table
in
his
cell
.
One
was
to
Katherine
Wilmot
—
the
other
was
to
me
.
The
governor
of
Newgate
has
just
been
with
me
,
and
has
delivered
to
me
this
last
communication
from
my
poor
friend
.
"
"
The
governor
of
Newgate
!
"
repeated
Cecilia
,
now
overwhelmed
with
vague
terrors
.
"
Yes
,
madam
:
and
the
contents
are
to
inform
me
that
you
—
you
,
madam
,
with
an
assumed
name
,
and
passing
yourself
off
as
Mr.
Tracy
's
sister
,
visited
him
twice
in
his
cell
,
and
,
on
the
latter
occasion
,
furnished
him
with
the
means
of
self-destruction
.
"
"
Heaven
protect
me
!
it
is
but
too
true
!
"
cried
Cecilia
;
and
,
throwing
herself
upon
her
knees
before
the
lawyer
,
she
almost
shrieked
the
words
,
"
You
would
not
give
me
up
to
justice
,
sir
—
you
will
not
betray
me
?
"
"
No
,
madam
,
"
answered
Mr.
Wharton
;
"
I
had
punished
you
sufficiently
when
these
tidings
arrived
.
"
"
Thank
you
,
sir
—
thank
you
,
"
cried
Cecilia
,
rising
from
her
knees
.
"
But
the
governor
of
Newgate
—
—
"
"
Is
gone
,
madam
.
I
did
not
tell
him
that
you
were
here
.
I
must
,
however
,
warn
you
that
I
communicated
to
him
,
as
in
duty
bound
,
the
contents
of
this
letter
.
"
"
Then
he
is
aware
that
I
—
—
"
"
He
is
aware
that
you
conveyed
the
poison
to
Reginald
Tracy
;
and
the
officers
of
justice
will
be
in
search
of
you
in
another
hour
,
"
replied
the
lawyer
,
coldly
.
"
My
God
!
what
will
become
of
me
?
"
ejaculated
Cecilia
,
now
pushed
to
an
extremity
which
she
never
had
contemplated
.
"
I
would
not
say
that
you
were
here
,
madam
,
"
continued
the
lawyer
,
"
because
Reginald
Tracy
had
contemplated
making
me
the
means
of
handing
you
over
to
the
grasp
of
justice
;
and
I
am
sorry
that
he
should
so
far
have
misunderstood
me
.
I
now
comprehend
why
he
directed
you
to
come
hither
.
He
thought
that
his
letter
would
reach
me
earlier
—
before
you
came
,
and
that
I
should
be
the
willing
instrument
of
his
vengeance
.
I
will
not
show
you
the
letter
,
because
he
has
mistaken
me
—
he
has
misunderstood
me
;
and
for
this
reason
alone
—
and
for
no
merciful
feeling
towards
you
—
have
I
shielded
you
thus
far
.
Now
go
,
madam
:
when
once
you
are
away
from
this
house
,
you
must
adopt
the
best
measures
you
can
devise
to
ensure
your
safety
.
"
"
But
can
you
not
counsel
me
,
sir
—
will
you
not
direct
me
how
to
act
?
"
cried
Cecilia
:
"
I
am
bewildered
—
I
know
not
what
step
to
take
!
"
"
I
have
no
counsel
to
offer
,
madam
,
"
returned
the
lawyer
,
briefly
.
Cecilia
could
not
mistake
the
meaning
conveyed
by
this
tone
.
She
rose
;
and
bowing
in
a
constrained
manner
to
the
solicitor
,
left
the
office
.
But
when
she
found
herself
in
the
street
,
she
was
cruelly
embarrassed
how
to
act
.
She
dared
not
return
home
;
the
paternal
door
had
long
been
closed
against
her
;
she
had
not
a
friend
—
and
she
had
not
a
resource
.
A
few
sovereigns
in
her
purse
were
all
her
available
means
.
She
thought
of
quitting
the
country
at
once
,
and
proceeding
to
join
her
husband
,
whom
she
knew
to
be
in
Paris
.
But
how
would
he
receive
her
?
The
newspapers
would
soon
be
busy
with
her
name
;
and
Sir
Rupert
was
not
the
man
to
burden
himself
with
a
woman
penniless
in
purse
and
ruined
in
reputation
.
For
an
instant
she
thought
of
Greenwood
;
but
this
idea
was
discarded
almost
as
soon
as
entertained
.
She
was
aware
of
his
utter
heartlessness
,
and
felt
confident
that
he
would
repulse
her
coldly
from
his
dwelling
.
To
whom
could
she
apply
?
whither
was
she
to
betake
herself
?
And
yet
concealment
was
necessary
—
oh
!
she
must
hide
somewhere
!
The
feelings
of
this
woman
were
terrible
beyond
description
.
And
now
she
was
walking
rapidly
along
the
streets
towards
London
Bridge
;
for
the
idea
of
quitting
the
country
was
uppermost
in
her
mind
.
Her
veil
was
drawn
carefully
over
her
countenance
;
and
yet
she
trembled
at
every
policeman
whom
she
passed
.
She
was
hurrying
down
Gracechurch
Street
,
when
she
heard
herself
called
by
name
.
She
knew
the
voice
,
and
turned
round
,
saying
to
herself
,
"
Help
may
come
from
this
quarter
!
"
It
was
the
old
hag
who
had
spoken
to
her
.
"
My
good
woman
,
"
said
Lady
Cecilia
hastily
,
"
all
is
known
—
all
is
discovered
!
"
"
What
is
known
?
"
asked
the
old
hag
,
in
her
usual
imperturbable
tone
.
"
It
is
known
that
I
conveyed
the
poison
,
which
you
procured
for
me
,
to
Reginald
Tracy
,
"
replied
Cecilia
,
in
a
hoarse
whisper
.
"
You
have
heard
that
he
is
dead
?
"
"
I
heard
that
last
evening
,
"
said
the
hag
.
"
What
are
you
going
to
do
?
"
"
To
hide
myself
from
the
officers
of
justice
,
"
returned
Cecilia
.
"
But
step
into
this
court
,
or
we
shall
be
observed
.
"
The
old
woman
followed
the
unhappy
lady
under
an
archway
.
"
I
must
conceal
myself
—
at
least
for
the
present
,
"
resumed
Cecilia
.
"
Will
you
grant
me
an
asylum
?
"
"
I
!
my
dear
lady
!
"
ejaculated
the
hag
,
shaking
her
head
ominously
:
"
I
am
in
danger
myself
—
I
am
in
danger
myself
!
Did
I
not
procure
you
the
poison
?
"
"
True
.
But
I
would
not
betray
you
.
"
"
No
—
we
must
each
shift
for
ourselves
—
we
must
each
shift
for
ourselves
,
as
best
we
can
,
"
replied
the
hag
flatly
.
"
Indeed
,
I
may
as
well
remind
you
,
Lady
Cecilia
,
that
your
day
is
gone
—
you
are
ruined
—
and
,
if
you
had
any
spirit
,
you
would
not
survive
it
!
"
"
My
God
!
what
do
you
mean
?
"
faltered
Cecilia
,
in
a
faint
tone
.
"
The
river
is
deep
,
or
the
Monument
is
high
,
"
answered
the
hag
,
in
a
significant
tone
;
"
and
you
are
near
both
!
"
The
wrinkled
old
harridan
then
hobbled
out
of
the
court
as
quickly
as
her
rheumatic
limbs
would
carry
her
.
"
Even
she
deserts
me
!
"
murmured
Cecilia
to
herself
,
and
with
difficulty
suppressing
an
ebullition
of
feeling
which
would
have
attracted
notice
,
and
probably
led
to
her
detection
:
"
even
she
deserts
me
!
My
God
—
is
there
nothing
left
to
me
but
suicide
?
No
—
nothing
!
"
Her
countenance
wore
,
beneath
her
veil
,
an
expression
of
blank
despair
,
as
she
arrived
at
this
appalling
conviction
;
and
for
some
moments
she
stood
as
if
rooted
to
the
spot
.
"
No
—
nothing
left
but
that
,
"
she
murmured
,
awaking
from
her
temporary
stupefaction
:
"
nothing
—
nothing
!
"
And
although
these
words
were
uttered
in
the
lowest
whisper
,
still
it
seemed
as
if
she
shrieked
them
within
herself
.
Then
she
hurried
from
the
court
.
"
The
river
—
or
the
Monument
,
"
she
said
,
as
she
continued
her
rapid
way
:
"
the
river
is
near
—
but
the
Monument
is
