eventswhich
led
to
my
precipitate
departure
from
Castelcicala
,
"
continued
Eliza
,
after
a
short
pause
.
"
You
must
know
that
the
loss
which
the
ducal
troops
experienced
at
Ossore
—
chiefly
through
your
prowess
,
Prince
—
overwhelmed
my
late
husband
with
a
fury
which
rendered
him
terrible
to
all
around
.
He
threatened
the
most
deadly
vengeance
against
the
Constitutional
prisoners
,
and
was
only
persuaded
by
my
entreaties
and
prayers
to
relinquish
the
extreme
measures
which
he
at
first
conceived
against
them
.
It
was
,
I
think
,
on
the
fourth
day
after
you
,
Prince
,
left
Montoni
,
disguised
as
an
artist
,
and
with
a
passport
made
out
in
a
fictitious
name
,
that
the
usher
who
had
admitted
you
into
the
palace
,
and
who
,
it
appeared
,
had
listened
at
the
door
of
the
room
where
our
interview
took
place
,
betrayed
the
whole
circumstances
to
the
Grand-Duke
.
The
Grand-Duke
came
immediately
to
my
apartment
,
overwhelmed
me
with
reproaches
,
and
levelled
the
most
unjust
accusations
against
me
.
But
I
will
not
insult
you
nor
your
amiable
bride
by
repeating
all
that
the
Duke
said
on
that
occasion
.
Never
were
suspicions
more
cruel
:
never
was
woman
's
conduct
so
thoroughly
misunderstood
—
so
unjustly
interpreted
!
His
Serene
Highness
commanded
me
to
keep
my
own
chamber
—
to
consider
myself
a
prisoner
!
An
hour
afterwards
,
Signor
Bazzano
contrived
to
obtain
access
to
me
,
unperceived
by
the
spies
set
to
watch
me
.
His
uncle
was
,
as
I
think
I
informed
you
when
we
met
at
Montoni
,
Prince
,
the
Under-Secretary
of
State
for
the
Home
Department
;
and
from
that
relative
Bazzano
had
learnt
the
fearful
tidings
which
he
came
to
impart
to
me
.
It
appeared
that
the
Grand-Duke
intended
to
appoint
a
Commission
of
Judges
and
Councillors
of
State
to
try
me
—
me
,
his
wife
!
All
his
former
affection
for
me
had
suddenly
changed
,
beneath
the
weight
of
his
injurious
suspicions
,
into
the
most
unbounded
hatred
.
I
knew
that
he
would
form
the
Commission
of
men
rather
inclined
to
do
the
royal
bidding
than
to
investigate
the
entire
matter
with
justice
and
impartiality
.
He
was
a
prince
who
knew
no
other
law
than
his
own
sovereign
will
!
Alas
!
that
was
his
failing
;
and
it
triumphed
over
all
the
better
feelings
of
a
mind
naturally
generous
!
Signor
Bazzano
also
informed
me
that
spies
had
been
sent
out
all
over
the
country
to
track
you
,
Prince
;
and
that
your
death
,
should
you
be
captured
,
was
determined
upon
.
Fortunately
,
however
,
you
escaped
the
pursuit
of
your
foes
!
"
"
And
yet
what
danger
must
you
have
incurred
!
"
exclaimed
Isabella
,
gazing
with
tearful
affection
at
her
husband
.
"
Providence
shielded
you
,
dearest
brother
,
"
murmured
Katherine
.
"
Yes
—
Providence
shielded
him
for
its
own
wise
and
good
purposes
,
"
added
Eliza
Sydney
.
"
To
continue
the
thread
of
my
narrative
,
I
must
observe
that
the
information
brought
me
by
the
faithful
Bazzano
filled
me
with
alarm
.
I
already
saw
myself
disgraced
by
an
unjust
verdict
:
—
my
life
was
even
in
danger
.
I
was
not
compelled
to
implore
Signor
Bazzano
to
assist
me
to
escape
:
he
proposed
the
step
as
the
only
means
of
safety
alike
to
myself
and
to
him
—
for
he
was
already
endangered
by
the
revelations
of
the
usher
,
although
the
influence
of
his
uncle
had
served
to
shield
him
from
the
immediate
vengeance
of
the
Grand-Duke
.
A
post-chaise
was
procured
by
Bazzano
that
same
afternoon
;
and
I
managed
to
escape
from
the
palace
,
accompanied
by
Louisa
—
a
faithful
Englishwoman
who
has
been
in
my
service
for
some
years
.
At
Friuli
Signor
Bazzano
met
you
,
Prince
,
and
gave
you
a
timely
warning
,
the
nature
of
which
you
can
now
understand
.
For
it
was
known
that
you
had
quitted
Montoni
,
attended
by
a
servant
of
dark
complexion
;
and
the
spies
sent
after
you
were
therefore
led
to
inquire
for
two
persons
answering
a
certain
description
,
and
journeying
together
.
Thence
the
recommendation
to
separate
company
,
which
Bazzano
so
wisely
gave
you
;
and
perhaps
to
that
circumstance
of
thus
parting
from
your
servant
you
each
owed
your
safety
.
In
reference
to
my
own
flight
it
only
remains
for
me
to
say
that
we
proceeded
to
Montecuculi
,
having
left
behind
us
at
Friuli
an
impression
that
we
were
going
in
quite
another
direction
.
Arrived
in
safety
at
Montecuculi
,
we
sent
back
the
chaise
to
Montoni
,
and
secured
places
in
a
public
vehicle
for
the
nearest
town
in
the
Roman
States
.
Our
perils
were
soon
over
:
—
we
travelled
day
and
night
until
we
reached
Leghorn
,
in
Tuscany
,
whence
we
embarked
on
board
a
vessel
bound
for
England
.
Shortly
after
my
arrival
here
,
the
news
of
the
Castelcicalan
insurrection
reached
this
country
;
and
then
I
heard
,
Prince
,
that
you
were
at
the
head
of
the
Constitutionalists
.
"
"
But
I
did
not
violate
my
promise
to
you
,
"
observed
Richard
.
"
I
pledged
myself
,
on
the
occasion
of
our
interview
at
Montoni
,
never
to
draw
the
hostile
weapon
in
Castelcicala
,
save
at
the
command
of
Alberto
and
in
a
just
cause
,
or
to
relieve
the
Grand-Duchy
from
a
foreign
invader
.
"
"
Yes
,
Prince
,
"
returned
Eliza
;
"
you
kept
your
word
—
for
the
Austrians
were
in
the
land
when
you
became
the
champion
of
the
Constitutionalists
.
I
have
now
but
a
few
words
more
to
say
in
reference
to
myself
.
When
the
news
of
the
battle
of
Montoni
reached
England
,
accompanied
with
the
statement
that
the
Grand-Duke
Angelo
had
fled
into
the
Roman
States
,
I
felt
persuaded
that
he
would
repair
to
Vienna
,
the
Austrian
Emperor
being
his
near
relative
.
I
accordingly
wrote
to
my
husband
,
addressing
my
letters
to
him
in
that
city
.
I
explained
all
that
had
occurred
between
yourself
,
Prince
,
and
me
at
our
interview
immediately
after
the
defeat
of
the
Constitutionalists
at
Ossore
:
I
told
him
how
deeply
he
had
wronged
me
with
the
most
injurious
suspicions
;
and
I
implored
him
to
allow
me
to
join
him
,
and
comfort
him
in
his
exile
—
in
his
misfortunes
!
The
answer
I
received
was
satisfactory
—
was
in
itself
all
I
could
wish
;
—
but
it
was
accompanied
by
the
tidings
of
his
death
!
On
the
bed
from
which
he
never
rose
again
,
he
recognised
my
innocence
—
he
acknowledged
his
injustice
—
he
besought
me
to
forgive
him
!
"
"
Heaven
be
thanked
that
,
through
your
goodness
towards
me
,
you
were
not
doomed
to
undergo
the
additional
torment
of
his
dying
enmity
!
"
ejaculated
the
Prince
,
fervently
.
"
Rest
tranquil
on
that
head
,
"
returned
Eliza
.
"
I
have
now
told
you
all
that
concerns
myself
.
I
may
,
however
,
observe
that
I
should
have
sought
an
interview
with
you
sooner
,
only
I
was
unwilling
to
disturb
the
first
few
days
of
your
happiness
with
your
charming
bride
.
"
"
Would
that
you
had
written
to
me
the
moment
I
arrived
in
England
!
"
cried
Richard
.
"
The
parents
of
Isabella
would
have
been
rejoiced
to
obtain
your
friendship
!
But
you
have
not
yet
told
us
what
has
become
of
the
faithful
Mario
Bazzano
.
I
owe
him
a
debt
of
deep
gratitude
;
and
if
he
be
in
this
country
still
—
—
"
"
He
is
in
England
,
"
interrupted
Eliza
;
"
and
as
I
felt
persuaded
that
you
would
comply
with
the
request
contained
in
my
letter
of
yesterday
,
and
come
hither
to-day
,
I
wrote
to
Signor
Bazzano
to
request
his
presence
in
the
afternoon
.
We
may
,
therefore
,
expect
him
shortly
.
He
has
grown
very
melancholy
of
late
—
I
know
not
why
:
some
secret
care
appears
to
oppress
him
!
On
our
arrival
in
England
,
he
hired
apartments
at
the
West-End
;
but
shortly
afterwards
he
encountered
an
English
officer
with
whom
he
had
formed
an
acquaintance
some
years
ago
in
Montoni
.
It
appears
that
this
officer
was
travelling
at
that
time
in
Italy
:
and
during
his
temporary
stay
in
the
Castelcicalan
capital
,
he
and
Signor
Bazzano
grew
intimate
.
When
they
met
at
the
West-End
two
or
three
months
ago
,
this
officer
pressed
Signor
Bazzano
to
stay
with
him
at
some
town
near
London
,
where
his
regiment
is
stationed
.
Signor
Bazzano
accepted
the
invitation
;
and
for
some
weeks
I
saw
nothing
of
him
.
Since
his
return
to
London
he
has
not
appeared
to
be
the
same
being
.
It
is
true
that
I
see
him
but
seldom
:
still
that
change
has
not
escaped
my
notice
.
He
is
fond
of
solitude
and
long
lonely
walks
,
in
which
he
employs
the
greater
portion
of
his
time
—
save
those
hours
which
he
devotes
to
the
study
of
English
by
the
aid
of
a
master
;
and
I
can
assure
you
that
his
progress
in
acquiring
our
language
has
been
truly
remarkable
.
"
"
Perhaps
his
melancholy
is
produced
by
absence
from
his
native
land
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
There
can
be
no
possible
reason
for
him
to
remain
in
exile
against
his
inclination
;
and
should
he
wish
to
return
to
Italy
,
I
will
provide
him
with
strong
recommendations
to
the
Grand-Duke
.
"
"
No
—
he
does
not
desire
to
leave
England
,
"
answered
Eliza
;
"
for
I
myself
have
questioned
him
upon
that
subject
.
I
am
rather
inclined
to
believe
that
some
motive
of
a
more
tender
nature
—
some
hopeless
attachment
,
perhaps
—
has
produced
in
him
the
alteration
which
I
have
seen
and
deplored
.
But
he
will
be
here
shortly
;
and
—
—
"
Eliza
was
interrupted
by
a
loud
knock
at
the
front
door
.
Katherine
sighed
:
for
the
words
of
the
royal
widow
had
aroused
within
her
gentle
breast
painful
remembrances
of
her
own
romantic
and
apparently
hopeless
attachment
!
The
door
opened
;
and
Signor
Bazzano
was
introduced
.
Richard
immediately
hastened
forward
to
greet
him
.
But
—
how
strange
!
—
a
cry
of
wild
delight
burst
from
the
lips
of
the
handsome
Castelcicalan
,
as
his
eyes
encountered
one
particular
countenance
in
that
room
;
—
and
at
the
same
moment
Katherine
clung
convulsively
to
Isabella
's
arm
,
as
if
to
save
herself
from
falling
from
the
sofa
.
For
Mario
Bazzano
was
the
hero
of
the
young
maiden
's
romantic
adventures
at
Hounslow
!
Katherine
,
with
the
ingenuous
confidence
of
a
sister
,
had
revealed
to
her
brother
,
and
also
to
Isabella
,
the
particulars
of
those
strange
meetings
with
the
"
handsome
unknown
,
"
and
had
not
attempted
to
disguise
the
impression
made
upon
her
heart
by
that
individual
,
—
an
impression
against
which
she
had
vainly
endeavoured
to
struggle
.
Thus
,
when
those
tokens
of
recognition
were
manifested
alike
by
Mario
Bazzano
and
Katherine
Markham
,
both
Richard
and
Isabella
instantly
divined
the
cause
.
"
Pardon
me
,
your
Highness
,
"
exclaimed
the
Castelcicalan
officer
,
endeavouring
to
throw
off
the
trammels
of
embarrassment
,
and
speaking
in
excellent
English
;
"
but
—
that
young
lady
—
I
think
I
have
seen
her
—
—
before
—
—
I
—
—
"
"
Perhaps
,
"
interrupted
the
Prince
,
laughing
.
"
At
all
events
I
will
introduce
her
to
you
now
—
for
she
is
my
sister
.
"
"
Your
sister
,
my
lord
!
"
cried
Mario
,
in
a
tone
which
expressed
some
degree
of
vexation
at
this
announcement
—
as
if
he
dared
not
aspire
to
so
near
a
relative
of
a
personage
of
our
hero
's
rank
.
"
Throw
aside
all
ceremony
with
me
,
Bazzano
,
"
said
Richard
,
shaking
him
warmly
by
the
hand
.
"
I
am
your
debtor
—
deeply
your
debtor
.
You
saved
my
life
after
the
defeat
of
Ossore
:
your
conduct
was
too
generous
—
too
noble
ever
to
be
lightly
valued
.
But
,
say
—
was
it
near
Hounslow
that
you
have
met
my
sister
?
"
And
as
he
spoke
,
he
glanced
slily
towards
the
blushing
Katherine
,
who
was
half
hiding
her
countenance
behind
Isabella
.
"
It
was
—
it
was
!
"
exclaimed
Mario
.
"
And
will
your
Highness
be
offended
if
I
confess
that
your
charming
sister
made
a
profound
impression
upon
my
mind
?
Although
believing
her
to
be
only
the
daughter
of
the
tenants
of
that
farm-house
near
which
I
encountered
her
in
her
walks
,
I
felt
myself
irresistibly
attracted
towards
her
!
And
,
—
but
your
Highness
will
laugh
at
my
romantic
dreams
,
—
I
determined
to
acquire
the
English
language
for
her
sake
—
that
I
might
speak
to
her
—
that
I
might
render
myself
intelligible
to
her
!
"
"
We
will
give
you
an
opportunity
of
convincing
her
of
your
proficiency
in
our
native
tongue
,
Mario
,
"
said
the
Prince
,
again
smiling
—
but
with
kindness
,
and
in
a
manner
well
calculated
to
reassure
the
young
Italian
officer
,
whom
he
led
towards
Katherine
.
And
,
oh
!
how
the
bashful
maiden
's
heart
beat
,
and
how
crimson
became
her
sweet
countenance
,
as
she
felt
her
hand
pressed
in
that
of
him
who
had
now
for
some
months
occupied
so
large
a
portion
of
her
thoughts
!
"
You
guessed
rightly
as
to
the
cause
of
Signor
Bazzano
's
melancholy
and
altered
appearance
,
"
whispered
Isabella
to
Eliza
,
as
they
walked
towards
the
window
from
which
Richard
was
now
gazing
upon
the
prospect
spread
before
the
villa
.
Then
Mario
and
Katherine
began
to
converse
,
—
timidly
and
with
frequent
intervals
of
silence
at
first
:
but
by
degrees
those
intervals
became
shorter
and
shorter
;
—
and
at
length
the
young
officer
found
himself
describing
how
he
had
felt
deeply
grieved
at
being
unable
to
utter
a
word
to
her
in
her
own
tongue
when
they
had
met
in
the
fields
near
the
farm
,
—
how
he
had
torn
himself
away
from
the
spot
and
returned
to
London
to
study
English
,
—
how
he
had
gone
back
to
Hounslow
a
few
days
afterwards
,
and
vainly
wandered
about
in
those
fields
with
the
hope
of
seeing
her
,
—
how
he
conceived
at
length
that
she
must
purposely
remain
within
the
house
to
avoid
him
,
the
idea
that
she
had
left
the
neighbourhood
never
entering
his
mind
,
—
how
he
had
returned
again
to
London
and
pursued
his
English
studies
under
the
romantic
impression
that
they
would
some
day
serve
him
in
respect
to
the
attachment
he
had
formed
for
her
,
—
and
how
he
paid
frequent
visits
to
the
vicinity
of
the
farm
,
and
was
at
length
almost
compelled
to
abandon
the
hope
of
ever
seeing
her
again
.
All
this
he
suddenly
found
himself
telling
her
;
and
she
as
suddenly
found
herself
listening
to
him
with
attention
,
—
neither
quite
recollecting
how
the
subject
had
first
been
touched
upon
.
Their
pleasant
tête-a-tête
was
at
length
interrupted
by
Eliza
Sydney
,
who
tapped
them
each
on
the
shoulder
,
with
the
laughing
assurance
that
the
servant
had
already
announced
luncheon
three
times
;
and
then
Kate
's
countenance
was
again
suffused
with
blushes
,
as
she
took
the
proffered
arm
of
her
lover
to
repair
to
the
apartment
where
an
elegant
collation
was
served
up
.
The
afternoon
passed
speedily
away
;
and
all
were
so
happy
that
they
were
in
no
haste
to
break
up
such
a
pleasant
party
.
Eliza
accordingly
insisted
that
her
guests
should
remain
to
dinner
—
an
invitation
which
was
accepted
.
Indeed
,
it
was
eleven
that
night
ere
the
Prince
's
carriage
and
Mario
's
horse
were
ordered
round
to
the
door
.
And
when
the
young
officer
separated
from
Katharine
,
it
was
not
without
an
assurance
from
her
brother
that
he
would
always
be
a
welcome
guest
at
Markham
Place
.
Great
was
the
surprise
,
but
not
less
the
joy
,
of
Ellen
Monroe
,
when
Katherine
,
on
her
return
home
and
ere
the
two
young
ladies
sought
their
couch
,
made
her
friend
acquainted
with
the
elucidation
of
the
mystery
of
"
the
handsome
stranger
.
"
CHAPTER
CCXXX
.
BETHLEM
HOSPITAL
.
What
contrasts
does
mortal
existence
present
to
view
!
While
some
are
joyous
and
happy
in
one
place
,
others
are
overwhelmed
with
sorrow
and
affliction
elsewhere
!
At
the
same
moment
that
the
surgeon
ushers
a
new
being
into
life
,
the
hand
of
the
executioner
cuts
short
the
days
of
another
.
Here
the
goblet
sparkles
with
the
ruby
wine
—
there
the
lip
touches
the
poisoned
glass
of
suicide
:
—
in
this
abode
a
luxurious
banquet
is
spread
upon
the
table
—
in
that
the
wretched
inmate
has
not
a
crust
to
stay
the
cravings
of
famine
!
Thus
was
it
that
while
the
hostess
and
the
guests
were
blithe
and
happy
in
the
villa
near
Clapton
,
a
painful
scene
was
in
process
of
enactment
elsewhere
.
It
was
about
five
o'clock
on
that
same
evening
when
a
cab
stopped
at
the
prisoners
'
gate
of
Newgate
;
and
from
the
vehicle
stepped
a
tall
,
powerfully-built
,
and
rather
good-looking
man
dressed
in
plain
clothes
.
He
was
accompanied
by
a
Superintendent
and
Serjeant
of
Police
.
They
were
immediately
admitted
into
the
lobby
of
the
gaol
;
and
the
turnkey
,
after
bestowing
upon
them
a
nod
of
recognition
,
said
,
"
You
need
n't
tell
me
to
guess
what
you
're
come
about
.
So
the
youngster
is
to
go
over
,
then
—
after
all
?
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
tall
man
in
plain
clothes
.
"
The
Secretary
of
State
's
warrant
was
sent
down
here
about
an
hour
ago
.
I
suppose
Cope
is
in
?
"
"
Step
into
the
office
,
Mr.
Busby
,
and
see
,
"
answered
the
turnkey
.
The
tall
man
,
who
responded
to
the
name
of
Busby
,
accordingly
passed
from
the
lobby
into
the
governor
's
office
.
"
Any
thing
new
?
"
asked
the
turnkey
,
rubbing
his
nose
with
the
end
of
the
massive
emblem
of
his
office
,
and
accosting
the
two
police
authorities
,
who
had
seated
themselves
on
the
bench
facing
the
gate
.
"
Not
that
I
know
on
,
"
returned
the
Serjeant
;
"
leastways
nothink
partickler
—
unless
it
is
that
my
Superintendent
here
is
doing
someot
in
the
littererry
line
,
and
writing
a
book
about
Great
Criminals
,
and
Police
,
and
Prisons
,
and
all
that
there
kind
of
thing
.
"
"
You
do
n't
say
so
?
"
ejaculated
the
turnkey
.
"
Yes
,
sir
—
Mr.
Crisp
is
quite
right
,
"
said
the
Superintendent
,
pompously
:
"
I
ham
getting
up
a
work
on
them
subjects
;
but
my
official
po-sition
will
compel
me
to
publish
it
enonnymusly
,
as
they
say
.
And
while
we
're
here
,
Crisp
,
we
may
as
well
take
down
a
few
notes
—
for
I
must
inform
you
,
"
continued
the
Superintendent
,
addressing
himself
once
more
to
the
turnkey
,
"
that
my
friend
and
subordingate
Mr.
Crisp
is
helping
me
in
this
here
labour
of
love
.
"
"
Well
,
sir
,
"
returned
the
gaol
functionary
,
"
any
information
that
I
can
give
you
,
I
shall
be
most
happy
to
furnish
you
with
,
I
'm
sure
.
"
"
Thank'ee
kindly
,
"
said
the
Superintendent
.
"
Now
,
Crisp
,
out
with
your
note-book
,
and
fall
to
.
Busby
will
be
half
an
hour
or
so
in
the
office
.
Pray
,
sir
,
what
may
be
the
anniwal
average
of
prisoners
,
male
and
female
,
in
Newgate
?
"
"
About
three
thousand
males
and
eight
hundred
females
,
"
answered
the
turnkey
.
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
I
suppose
in
the
males
you
includes
boys
,
and
in
the
females
you
comprises
gals
?
"
"
Certainly
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
Now
what
's
the
state
of
discipline
here
?
"
asked
the
Superintendent
.
"
I
've
heerd
a
good
deal
about
it
,
in
course
;
but
I
'd
rayther
have
it
direct
from
a
'
ficial
source
.
"
"
Why
,
there
is
n't
much
to
say
on
that
point
,
"
returned
the
functionary
thus
appealed
to
.
"
We
let
the
prisoners
have
pretty
much
their
own
way
:
they
gamble
,
play
at
ball
,
fight
,
swear
,
sing
,
and
lark
in
the
wards
just
as
they
like
.
"
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
It
's
a
blessing
to
think
of
the
state
of
freedom
one
enjoys
even
in
the
gaols
of
this
enlightened
and
liberal
nation
.
"
"
To
be
sure
it
is
,
"
said
the
turnkey
.
"
The
young
thieves
consider
Newgate
to
be
a
capital
school
for
improvement
in
their
profession
:
when
they
're
at
chapel
,
they
're
always
practising
pick-pocketing
on
each-other
.
"
"
What
's
bred
in
the
bone
will
never
go
out
of
the
flesh
,
"
observed
the
Superintendent
.
"
But
the
poor
creeturs
must
have
some
diwersion
.
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
"
"
Ah
!
Newgate
has
seen
some
rum
things
in
its
time
,
"
moralised
the
turnkey
.
"
It
has
been
a
felon
's
gaol
for
well-nigh
seven
hundred
years
.
"
"
Has
it
,
though
?
"
cried
the
Superintendent
.
"
Now
,
then
,
Crisp
—
put
that
down
.
"
"
And
ever
since
I
first
come
here
,
"
continued
the
turnkey
,
"
there
have
been
constant
Reports
drawn
up
about
the
state
of
discipline
;
but
I
never
see
that
any
change
follows
.
"
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
When
my
book
is
published
,
my
good
fellow
,
you
'll
jist
see
what
the
world
will
say
about
a
change
!
There
's
no
need
of
change
—
and
that
I
'll
undertake
to
prove
.
Newgate
is
the
very
palace
of
prisons
.
Lord
bless
us
!
it
would
do
half
the
Aldermen
themselves
good
to
pass
a
few
days
in
such
a
pleasant
place
.
"
"
Sometimes
we
have
a
few
discontented
fellows
here
that
do
n't
like
to
associate
with
the
rest
,
"
proceeded
the
turnkey
;
"
and
then
they
ask
to
be
thrown
into
solitary
cells
.
"
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
I
suppose
they
're
always
gratified
in
their
wishes
?
"
asked
the
Superintendent
.
"
Oh
!
always
,
"
replied
the
turnkey
.
"
But
the
worst
of
all
is
that
the
chaplain
here
is
nothing
more
or
less
than
a
regular
spy
upon
the
governor
and
the
officials
,
and
constantly
reports
to
the
Home
Office
every
thing
that
occurs
.
"
"
Put
that
down
,
Crisp
.
Such
conduct
is
shameful
;
and
I
wonder
the
Gaol
Committee
of
Aldermen
do
n't
take
the
matter
up
.
"
"
So
they
will
,
"
rejoined
the
turnkey
.
"
But
here
comes
Busby
.
"
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
the
tall
man
in
plain
clothes
re-entered
the
lobby
.
"
All
right
?
"
asked
the
Superintendent
.
"
Yes
.
We
'll
take
him
over
at
once
,
"
was
the
reply
.
The
turnkey
stepped
into
a
passage
leading
to
the
interior
of
the
gaol
,
and
gave
some
instructions
to
a
colleague
who
was
stationed
there
.
A
few
minutes
afterwards
Henry
Holford
,
dressed
in
his
own
clothes
,
and
not
in
the
prison-garb
,
was
led
into
the
lobby
by
the
official
to
whom
the
turnkey
had
spoken
.
The
youth
was
well
in
health
,
and
by
no
means
cast
down
in
spirits
.
His
face
,
at
no
period
remarkable
for
freshness
of
colour
,
was
less
pallid
than
it
ever
before
had
been
.
There
were
,
however
,
a
certain
apathy
and
indifference
in
his
manner
which
might
have
induced
a
superficial
observer
to
conclude
that
his
reason
was
in
reality
affected
;
but
a
careful
examination
of
the
expression
of
his
countenance
and
a
few
minutes
'
study
of
his
intelligent
dark
eyes
,
would
have
served
to
convince
even
the
most
sceptical
that
,
however
morbid
his
mind
might
for
an
interval
have
become
,
that
excitement
or
disease
had
passed
away
,
and
he
was
now
as
far
removed
from
insanity
as
the
most
rational
of
God
's
creatures
.
"
Come
,
young
man
,
"
said
Mr.
Busby
,
with
great
kindness
of
manner
,
as
if
he
were
endeavouring
to
conciliate
an
individual
whom
he
actually
deemed
to
be
of
disturbed
intellects
;
"
you
are
going
along
with
me
—
and
I
'll
take
you
to
a
nice
house
with
a
pleasant
garden
,
and
where
you
'll
be
well
treated
.
"
"
I
am
at
no
loss
to
imagine
the
place
to
which
you
allude
,
"
said
Holford
,
an
expression
of
slyness
curling
his
lip
.
"
Better
Bedlam
than
Newgate
.
"
"
He
's
no
more
mad
than
me
,
Crisp
,
"
whispered
the
Superintendent
to
the
Serjeant
.
"
Not
a
bit
,
sir
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
You
may
put
that
down
,
Crisp
,
"
continued
the
Superintendent
,
still
speaking
aside
to
his
subordinate
.
"
It
will
all
do
to
go
into
our
report
to
the
Home
Secretary
.
How
capital
that
turnkey
allowed
himself
to
be
pumped
by
me
,
to
be
sure
!
Do
n't
you
think
I
did
it
very
well
?
"
"
Very
well
,
sir
,
indeed
,
"
returned
Crisp
.
"
But
I
introduced
the
subject
for
you
,
by
saying
that
you
was
okkipied
in
writing
a
book
.
"
"
Good
hidear
,
that
,
Crisp
,
"
rejoined
the
Superintendent
.
"
The
turnkey
little
thought
we
was
spies
,
while
he
blowed
up
about
the
chaplain
.
"
"
In
course
you
'll
make
out
Newgate
a
horrid
place
,
sir
?
"
said
Crisp
.
"
In
course
I
shall
,
"
answered
the
Superintendent
,
emphatically
;
"
'
cos
it
'll
please
the
Home
Secretary
.
But
there
's
Busby
a-calling
after
us
.
"
This
was
indeed
the
case
;
for
while
the
two
police-officers
were
thus
engaged
in
the
interchange
of
their
own
little
private
sentiments
,
Mr.
Busby
had
conducted
Holford
to
the
cab
,
and
had
ensconced
himself
therein
by
the
side
of
the
prisoner
.
The
Superintendent
followed
them
into
the
vehicle
;
and
,
at
the
suggestion
of
Busby
,
who
declared
in
a
whisper
to
that
functionary
that
three
men
were
not
needed
to
take
care
of
one
boy
,
the
farther
services
of
Crisp
were
dispensed
with
.
And
now
the
cab
rolled
rapidly
along
the
Old
Bailey
,
turned
down
Ludgate
Hill
,
thence
into
Bridge
Street
,
and
over
Blackfriars
Bridge
,
in
its
way
to
Bethlem
.
How
strange
to
Holford
appeared
the
busy
,
bustling
streets
,
and
that
river
—
"
the
silent
highway
"
—
on
whose
breast
all
was
life
and
animation
,
—
after
the
seclusion
of
several
weeks
in
Newgate
!
But
—
ah
!
did
he
not
now
behold
those
scenes
for
the
last
time
?
would
not
he
thenceforth
become
dead
to
the
world
?
was
he
not
about
to
be
immured
in
a
living
tomb
?
Never
—
never
more
would
the
echoes
of
the
myriad
voices
of
the
great
city
meet
his
ears
!
He
was
on
his
way
to
the
sepulchre
of
all
earthly
hopes
—
all
mundane
enjoyments
—
all
human
interests
!
Henceforth
must
that
bright
sun
,
which
now
steeped
pinnacle
,
dome
,
tower
,
and
river
in
a
flood
of
golden
lustre
,
visit
him
with
its
rays
only
through
the
grated
window
of
a
mad-house
!
For
the
last
time
was
he
crossing
that
bridge
—
for
the
last
time
did
he
behold
that
crowded
thoroughfare
leading
to
the
obelisk
:
—
on
the
gay
shops
,
the
rapid
vehicles
,
and
the
moving
multitudes
,
was
he
also
now
gazing
for
the
last
time
!
The
last
time
!
Oh
!
those
three
monosyllables
formed
a
terrible
prelude
—
an
awful
introduction
to
an
existence
of
monotony
,
gloom
,
and
eternal
confinement
!
Ah
!
could
he
recall
the
events
of
the
last
few
weeks
!
—
But
,
no
—
it
was
impossible
:
—
the
die
was
cast
—
the
deed
was
done
—
and
justice
had
settled
his
destiny
!
The
last
time
!
And
he
was
so
young
—
so
very
young
to
be
compelled
to
murmur
those
words
to
himself
.
The
sky
was
so
bright
—
the
air
of
the
river
was
so
refreshing
—
the
scene
viewed
from
the
bridge
was
so
attractive
,
that
he
could
scarcely
believe
he
was
really
doomed
never
to
enjoy
them
more
!
And
there
was
a
band
of
music
playing
in
the
road
—
at
the
door
of
a
public-house
!
What
was
the
air
?
"
Britons
never
shall
be
slaves
!
"
Merciful
God
!
—
he
was
now
a
slave
of
the
most
abject
description
!
The
convict
in
the
hulks
knew
that
the
day
of
release
must
come
—
the
transported
felon
might
enjoy
the
open
air
,
and
the
glorious
sun
,
and
the
cheering
breeze
:
—
but
for
him
—
for
Henry
Holford
—
eternal
confinement
within
four
walls
!
The
last
time
!
Oh
!
for
the
pleasures
of
life
that
were
now
to
be
abandoned
for
ever
!
For
the
last
time
did
his
eyes
behold
those
play-bills
in
the
shop
windows
—
and
he
was
so
fond
of
the
theatre
!
For
the
last
time
did
he
see
that
omnibus
on
its
way
to
the
Zoological
Gardens
—
and
he
was
so
fond
of
those
Gardens
!
Ah
!
it
was
a
crushing
—
a
stifling
—
a
suffocating
sensation
to
know
that
in
a
few
minutes
more
huge
doors
,
and
grated
windows
,
and
formidable
bolts
and
bars
must
separate
him
from
that
world
which
had
so
many
attractions
for
one
of
his
age
!
Yes
:
—
he
now
beheld
those
houses
—
those
shops
—
those
streets
—
those
crowds
—
those
vehicles
—
for
the
last
time
!
And
now
the
cab
has
reached
the
iron
gate
in
front
of
Bethlem
Hospital
.
There
was
a
temporary
delay
while
the
porter
opened
that
gate
.
Holford
looked
hastily
from
the
windows
;
and
his
lips
were
compressed
as
if
to
subdue
his
feelings
.
Again
the
vehicle
rolled
onward
,
and
in
a
few
moments
stopped
at
the
entrance
of
the
huge
mad-house
.
The
Superintendent
alighted
:
Holford
was
directed
to
follow
;
and
Busby
came
close
after
him
.
The
great
folding
doors
leading
into
the
handsome
hall
of
the
establishment
stood
open
:
—
Holford
paused
on
the
threshold
for
an
instant
—
cast
one
rapid
but
longing
look
behind
him
—
a
last
look
—
and
then
walked
with
firm
steps
to
a
waiting-room
commanding
a
view
of
the
grounds
at
the
back
of
the
building
.
On
the
table
lay
a
book
in
which
visitors
to
the
institution
are
compelled
to
enter
their
names
and
places
of
abode
.
Holford
turned
over
the
leaves
—
carelessly
at
first
;
but
when
he
caught
sight
of
several
great
names
,
he
experienced
a
momentary
glow
of
pride
and
triumph
,
as
he
murmured
to
himself
,
"
How
many
will
come
hither
on
purpose
to
feast
their
eyes
on
me
!
"
Busby
,
who
was
one
of
the
principal
officers
connected
with
the
establishment
,
of
which
Sir
Peter
Laurie
is
the
intelligent
and
justly-honoured
President
,
left
the
room
for
a
short
time
,
Holford
remaining
in
the
charge
of
the
Superintendent
.
When
the
first-mentioned
functionary
returned
,
it
was
to
conduct
the
youth
to
his
future
place
of
abode
.
Busby
led
the
way
through
a
long
and
well
ventilated
passage
,
in
which
about
a
dozen
miserable-looking
men
were
lounging
about
.
Holford
cast
a
glance
of
ill-concealed
terror
upon
their
countenances
,
and
read
madness
in
their
wild
eyes
.
But
,
to
his
astonishment
,
he
beheld
no
horrifying
and
revolting
sights
,
—
no
wretches
writhing
in
chains
—
no
maniacs
crowning
themselves
with
straws
—
no
unhappy
beings
raging
in
the
fury
of
insanity
.
He
had
hitherto
imagined
that
madhouses
were
shocking
places
—
and
Bethlem
worse
than
all
:
but
distressing
though
the
spectacle
of
human
reason
dethroned
and
cast
down
must
ever
be
,
it
was
still
a
great
relief
to
the
young
man
to
find
,
upon
inquiry
of
the
officer
,
that
there
were
no
scenes
throughout
the
vast
establishment
one
tittle
worse
than
that
which
he
now
beheld
.
On
one
side
of
that
long
passage
were
the
cells
,
or
rather
little
rooms
,
in
which
the
inmates
of
that
department
of
the
asylum
slept
,
each
being
allowed
a
separate
chamber
.
The
beds
were
comfortable
and
scrupulously
cleanly
in
appearance
;
and
the
officer
informed
Holford
that
the
linen
was
changed
very
frequently
.
From
the
other
side
of
the
passage
,
or
wide
corridor
,
opened
the
rooms
in
which
the
meals
were
served
up
;
and
here
we
may
observe
that
the
food
allowed
the
inmates
of
Bethlem
Hospital
is
both
excellent
in
quality
and
abundant
in
quantity
.
There
was
a
very
tall
officer
,
—
indeed
,
all
the
male
keepers
throughout
the
institution
are
tall
,
strong
,
and
well-built
men
,
—
walking
slowly
up
and
down
the
passage
of
which
we
are
speaking
;
and
when
any
of
the
unhappy
lunatics
addressed
him
,
he
replied
to
them
in
a
kind
and
conciliatory
manner
,
or
else
good-naturedly
humoured
them
by
listening
with
apparent
interest
and
attention
to
the
lamentable
outpourings
of
their
erratic
intellects
.
It
is
delightful
to
turn
from
those
descriptions
of
ill-disciplined
prisons
and
of
vicious
or
tyrannical
institutions
,
which
it
has
been
our
duty
to
record
in
this
work
,
—
it
is
delightful
to
turn
from
such
pictures
to
an
establishment
which
,
though
awakening
many
melancholy
thoughts
,
nevertheless
excites
our
admiration
and
demands
our
unbounded
praise
,
as
a
just
tribute
to
the
benevolence
,
the
wisdom
,
and
the
humanity
which
constitute
the
principles
of
its
administration
.
Oh
!
could
the
great
—
the
philanthropic
Pinel
rise
from
the
cold
tomb
and
visit
this
institution
of
which
we
are
speaking
,
—
he
would
see
ample
proof
to
convince
him
that
,
while
on
earth
,
he
had
not
lived
nor
toiled
in
vain
.
Connected
with
the
male
department
of
Bethlem
,
there
are
a
library
and
a
billiard-room
,
for
the
use
of
those
who
are
sufficiently
sane
to
enjoy
the
mental
pleasures
of
the
one
or
the
innocent
recreation
of
the
other
.
The
books
in
the
library
are
well
selected
:
they
consist
chiefly
of
the
works
of
travellers
and
voyagers
,
naval
and
military
histories
and
biographies
,
and
the
leading
cheap
periodicals
—
such
as
The
London
Journal
,
Chambers
's
Information
for
the
People
,
Knight
's
Penny
Magazine
,
etc.
Communicating
with
the
female
department
of
the
asylum
,
is
a
music-room
,
—
small
,
but
elegantly
fitted
up
,
and
affording
a
delightful
means
of
amusement
and
solace
to
many
of
the
inmates
of
that
division
of
the
building
.
When
these
attentions
to
the
comforts
and
even
happiness
,
—
for
Bethlem
Hospital
exhibits
many
examples
where
"
ignorance
is
bliss
,
"
—
of
those
who
are
doomed
to
dwell
within
its
walls
,
are
contrasted
with
the
awful
and
soul-harrowing
spectacle
which
its
interior
presented
not
very
many
years
ago
,
it
is
impossible
to
feel
otherwise
than
astonished
and
enraptured
at
the
vast
improvements
which
civilisation
has
introduced
into
the
modern
management
of
the
insane
!
But
let
us
return
to
Henry
Holford
.
We
left
him
threading
the
long
passage
which
formed
a
portion
of
his
way
towards
the
criminal
department
of
the
hospital
,
—
that
department
which
was
thenceforth
to
be
his
abode
!
It
may
be
readily
imagined
that
he
gazed
anxiously
and
intently
on
all
he
saw
,
—
that
not
a
single
object
of
such
new
,
strange
,
and
yet
mournful
interest
to
him
escaped
his
observation
.
Suddenly
he
beheld
a
man
leaning
against
the
wall
,
and
staring
at
him
as
he
passed
in
a
wild
and
almost
ferocious
manner
.
There
seemed
to
be
something
peculiar
in
that
poor
creature
's
garb
:
—
Holford
looked
again
—
and
that
second
glance
made
him
shudder
fearfully
!
The
man
had
on
a
strait-waistcoat
,
—
a
strong
garment
made
of
bed-ticking
,
and
resembling
a
smock
that
was
too
small
for
him
.
The
sleeves
were
beneath
,
instead
of
outside
,
and
were
sewn
to
the
waistcoat
—
a
contrivance
by
which
the
arms
of
the
unhappy
wretch
were
held
in
a
necessary
restraint
,
but
without
the
infliction
of
pain
.
"
Merciful
God
!
"
thought
Holford
,
within
himself
;
"
if
a
residence
within
these
walls
should
drive
me
really
mad
!
Oh
!
if
I
should
ever
come
to
such
an
abject
state
as
that
!
"
His
miserable
reflections
were
strangely
interrupted
.
One
of
the
lunatics
abruptly
drew
near
and
addressed
him
in
a
wild
and
incoherent
tone
.
"
The
nation
is
falling
,
"
he
said
;
"
and
the
worst
of
it
is
that
it
does
not
know
that
it
is
falling
!
It
is
going
down
as
rapidly
as
it
can
;
and
I
only
can
save
it
!
Yes
—
the
nation
is
falling
—
falling
—
—
"
Holford
felt
a
cold
and
shuddering
sensation
creep
over
him
;
for
these
manifestations
of
a
ruined
intellect
struck
him
forcibly
—
fearfully
,
—
as
if
they
were
an
omen
—
a
warning
—
a
presage
of
the
condition
to
which
he
himself
must
speedily
come
!
He
was
relieved
from
the
farther
importunities
of
the
poor
lunatic
,
by
the
sudden
opening
of
a
door
,
by
which
Busby
admitted
him
into
a
narrow
passage
with
two
gratings
,
having
a
small
space
between
them
.
The
inner
grating
was
at
the
bottom
of
a
stone
staircase
,
down
which
another
keeper
speedily
came
in
obedience
to
a
summons
from
Busby
's
lips
.
This
second
keeper
now
took
charge
of
Henry
Holford
,
whom
he
conducted
up
the
stairs
to
a
gallery
entered
by
a
wicket
in
an
iron
grating
,
and
divided
by
a
similar
defence
into
two
compartments
.
One
of
these
compartments
was
much
larger
than
the
other
,
and
contained
many
inmates
and
many
rooms
:
the
smaller
division
had
but
six
chambers
opening
from
it
.
The
entire
gallery
was
,
however
,
devoted
to
those
persons
who
,
having
committed
dread
deeds
,
had
been
acquitted
on
the
ground
of
insanity
.
It
was
to
the
lesser
compartment
that
Holford
was
assigned
.
And
now
he
was
an
inmate
of
the
criminal
division
of
Bethlem
Hospital
,
—
he
who
was
as
sane
as
his
keeper
,
and
who
could
,
therefore
,
the
more
keenly
feel
,
the
more
bitterly
appreciate
the
dread
circumstances
of
his
present
condition
!
And
who
were
his
companions
?
Men
that
had
perpetrated
appalling
deeds
—
horrible
murders
—
in
the
aberration
of
their
intellects
!
Was
this
the
triumph
that
he
had
achieved
by
his
regicide
attempt
?
had
he
earned
that
living
tomb
as
the
sacrifice
to
be
paid
for
the
infamous
notoriety
which
he
had
acquired
?
Oh
!
to
return
to
his
pot-boy
existence
—
to
wait
on
the
vulgar
and
the
low
—
to
become
once
more
a
menial
unto
menials
,
—
rather
than
stay
in
that
terrible
place
!
Or
else
to
be
confined
for
life
in
a
gaol
where
no
presence
of
madness
might
tend
to
drive
him
mad
also
!
—
Yes
—
that
were
preferable
—
oh
!
far
preferable
to
the
soul-harrowing
scene
where
man
appeared
more
degraded
and
yet
more
formidable
than
the
brutes
!
Yes
—
yes
:
transportation
—
chains
—
the
horrors
of
Norfolk
Island
,
—
any
thing
—
any
thing
rather
than
immurement
in
the
criminal
wards
of
Bethlem
!
Vain
and
useless
regrets
for
the
past
!
—
futile
and
ineffective
aspirations
for
the
future
!
CHAPTER
CCXXXI
.
MR.
GREENWOOD
AND
MR.
VERNON
.
It
was
in
the
middle
of
April
,
and
about
two
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
,
when
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
knocked
at
the
door
of
Mr.
Greenwood
's
mansion
in
Spring
Gardens
.
He
was
immediately
admitted
by
a
footman
in
livery
;
and
Filippo
,
the
Italian
valet
,
who
was
lounging
in
the
hall
at
the
moment
,
conducted
him
to
the
elegant
drawing-room
where
the
Member
for
Rottenborough
was
seated
.
As
soon
as
Filippo
had
retired
,
Mr.
Vernon
said
in
a
somewhat
impatient
tone
,
as
he
fixed
his
large
grey
eyes
in
a
scrutinising
manner
upon
Greenwood
's
countenance
,
"
May
I
request
to
know
,
with
as
little
delay
as
possible
,
the
reason
that
has
induced
you
to
demand
this
interview
?
"
"
Sit
down
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
was
the
reply
;
"
and
listen
to
me
calmly
.
In
January
last
I
met
you
accidentally
in
London
;
and
you
implored
me
not
to
breathe
to
a
soul
the
fact
that
you
were
in
this
country
.
"
"
And
if
I
had
private
—
urgent
motives
for
so
acting
,
Mr.
Greenwood
,
"
exclaimed
Vernon
,
"
I
cannot
suppose
that
it
cost
you
any
effort
to
maintain
my
secret
.
"
"
I
set
out
by
requesting
you
to
listen
to
me
attentively
,
"
returned
the
Member
of
Parliament
,
with
the
coolness
of
a
man
who
knows
he
is
dictating
to
one
completely
in
his
power
.
"
Proceed
,
"
said
Vernon
,
biting
his
lip
.
"
I
will
not
again
interrupt
you
:
that
is
—
unless
—
—
"
"
I
need
scarcely
state
that
I
did
keep
your
secret
,
"
continued
Greenwood
,
without
appearing
to
notice
the
hesitation
with
which
his
visitor
gave
the
promise
of
attention
.
"
You
shortly
afterwards
called
upon
me
to
request
a
loan
,
which
it
was
not
convenient
for
me
to
advance
at
the
moment
.
On
that
occasion
you
reiterated
your
request
of
secrecy
relative
to
your
presence
in
London
.
I
renewed
my
pledge
of
silence
—
and
I
kept
it
;
but
I
felt
convinced
that
there
were
some
cogent
reasons
which
prompted
that
anxiety
for
concealment
.
Knowing
much
of
your
circumstances
,
I
instituted
inquiries
in
a
certain
quarter
;
and
I
learnt
that
Lord
Ravensworth
was
dying
—
dying
gradually
—
in
a
most
mysterious
manner
—
and
of
a
disease
that
baffled
all
the
skill
of
his
physicians
.
I
also
ascertained
that
he
was
a
slave
to
the
use
of
a
particular
tobacco
which
you
—
his
brother
—
had
kindly
sent
him
from
the
East
!
"
"
Mr.
Greenwood
!
"
ejaculated
Vernon
,
his
face
assuming
so
dark
—
so
foreboding
—
so
ferocious
an
expression
that
the
Member
of
Parliament
saw
his
dart
had
been
levelled
with
the
most
accurate
aim
.
"
Pray
,
listen
,
Mr.
Vernon
!
"
said
Greenwood
,
playing
with
his
watch-chain
in
a
calm
and
quiet
manner
,
as
if
he
were
discoursing
upon
the
most
indifferent
topics
.
"
Having
made
those
discoveries
,
—
which
,
indeed
,
were
so
generally
known
in
the
fashionable
world
,
that
the
most
simple
inquiry
induced
any
West-End
gossip
or
newsmonger
of
the
Clubs
to
descant
upon
them
,
—
I
began
to
view
them
in
a
particular
light
—
—
"
"
Mr.
Greenwood
,
"
cried
Vernon
,
starting
from
his
seat
,
his
countenance
red
with
indignation
,
"
do
you
pretend
for
one
moment
to
insinuate
that
I
—
I
,
the
brother
of
the
late
Lord
Ravensworth
—
—
"
"
I
insinuate
nothing
,
"
interrupted
the
Member
,
with
the
most
provoking
calmness
:
"
but
I
will
presently
explain
to
you
in
broad
terms
,
if
you
choose
,
the
facts
of
which
I
am
convinced
.
I
promise
you
that
you
will
do
well
to
hear
me
patiently
.
"
"
But
is
my
character
to
suffer
by
the
scandal
of
superannuated
dowagers
and
the
tattle
of
Club
quid
nuncs
?
"
demanded
Vernon
,
rage
imparting
a
terrible
emphasis
to
his
deep-toned
voice
.
"
Your
character
has
in
no
way
suffered
with
those
parties
,
"
answered
Greenwood
.
"
All
that
they
relate
is
mere
idle
gossip
,
without
an
object
or
an
aim
.
They
have
no
suspicion
:
circumstances
have
aroused
none
in
their
minds
.
But
when
I
heard
all
that
they
state
as
mere
matter
of
conversation
,
I
viewed
it
in
a
different
light
,
because
my
suspicions
were
aroused
by
the
knowledge
of
your
presence
in
England
,
and
your
anxiety
to
conceal
that
fact
.
And
,
if
any
thing
were
wanting
to
confirm
those
suspicions
,
the
company
in
which
I
saw
you
the
evening
before
last
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
you
saw
me
—
with
some
one
?
"
cried
Vernon
,
hastily
,
and
for
the
moment
thrown
off
his
guard
.
"
Yes
:
I
saw
you
in
conversation
with
a
man
of
the
most
desperate
character
—
a
man
who
only
last
month
escaped
from
the
Middlesex
House
of
Correction
—
—
"
"
Then
,
in
a
word
,
Mr.
Greenwood
,
"
interrupted
Vernon
,
subduing
his
vexation
and
rage
with
a
desperate
mental
effort
,
and
resuming
his
seat
,
"
how
came
you
to
discover
my
address
in
Stamford
Street
?
and
wherefore
did
you
yesterday
write
to
me
to
call
on
you
to-day
?
"
"
I
overheard
you
say
to
Anthony
Tidkins
,
'
The
day
after
to-morrow
I
shall
proceed
to
Ravensworth
Hall
,
as
if
I
had
only
just
returned
to
England
in
consequence
of
letters
sent
to
Beyrout
to
announce
to
me
my
brother
's
death
;
and
you
will
join
me
in
the
capacity
agreed
upon
.
'
This
I
overheard
you
say
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
continued
Greenwood
,
fixing
upon
his
visitor
a
glance
of
triumphant
assurance
;
"
and
I
then
felt
convinced
that
all
my
previous
suspicions
were
well
founded
!
I
accordingly
followed
you
when
you
separated
from
that
individual
who
bears
the
odious
name
of
the
Resurrection
Man
;
and
I
traced
you
to
your
lodgings
in
Stamford
Street
.
"
"
But
for
what
purpose
?
with
what
view
?
"
demanded
Vernon
,
who
saw
that
he
was
completely
in
Greenwood
's
power
.
"
I
will
come
to
that
presently
,
"
was
the
calm
reply
.
"
You
do
not
even
give
me
credit
for
the
delicacy
with
which
I
acted
in
bringing
about
this
interview
?
"
"
Delicacy
!
"
repeated
Vernon
,
his
lip
curling
haughtily
.
"
Yes
—
delicacy
,
"
added
Greenwood
.
"
I
knew
not
whether
you
passed
at
your
lodging
by
your
proper
name
;
and
therefore
I
would
not
call
in
person
to
inquire
for
you
—
fearful
of
betraying
you
.
"
"
But
I
do
pass
there
in
my
proper
name
,
"
said
Vernon
;
"
for
the
old
widow
who
keeps
the
house
nursed
me
in
my
infancy
,
and
I
can
rely
upon
her
.
"
"
Thank
you
for
this
admission
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
rejoined
Greenwood
,
complacently
:
"
wherever
reliance
is
to
be
placed
,
it
is
clear
that
there
is
something
which
might
be
betrayed
.
You
have
confirmed
the
strength
of
my
previous
convictions
.
"
"
Do
not
think
that
I
made
that
admission
unguardedly
,
"
said
Vernon
,
nettled
by
Greenwood
's
manner
.
"
No
:
I
see
that
I
am
in
your
power
—
I
admit
it
;
and
therefore
I
no
longer
attempted
to
mislead
you
.
"
"
And
you
acted
wisely
,
"
returned
Greenwood
.
"
It
were
far
better
for
you
to
have
me
as
a
friend
,
than
as
an
enemy
.
But
,
as
I
was
ere
now
observing
,
it
was
to
avoid
the
chance
of
betraying
you
that
I
sent
my
faithful
valet
,
Filippo
,
to
loiter
about
Stamford
Street
last
evening
,
and
slip
my
note
into
your
hands
.
I
described
your
person
to
him
—
and
he
executed
my
commission
well
.
"
"
Then
you
have
no
inimical
motive
in
seeking
me
out
—
in
telling
me
all
that
you
suspect
?
"
said
Vernon
,
looking
suspiciously
at
Greenwood
from
beneath
his
dark
brows
.
"
Not
the
slightest
!
How
can
I
have
such
a
motive
?
"
exclaimed
Greenwood
.
"
A
secret
falls
in
my
way
—
and
I
endeavour
to
profit
by
it
.
That
is
all
.
"
"
I
scarcely
comprehend
you
,
"
observed
the
guilty
man
,
his
countenance
again
becoming
overcast
.
"
In
one
word
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
continued
Greenwood
,
emphatically
,
"
you
come
to
England
privately
—
upon
some
secret
and
mysterious
errand
.
Still
you
pass
by
your
own
name
at
your
lodging
.
That
circumstance
to
superficial
observers
might
seem
to
involve
a
strange
want
of
precaution
.
To
me
it
appears
a
portion
of
your
plan
,
and
the
result
of
a
judicious
calculation
.
You
return
privately
to
England
,
I
say
—
but
you
retain
your
own
name
at
a
place
where
you
know
it
will
not
be
betrayed
unless
circumstances
should
peremptorily
demand
its
revelation
;
and
then
,
should
certain
suspicions
attach
themselves
to
you
,
you
would
say
boldly
and
feasibly
also
—
'
It
is
true
that
I
came
to
England
to
live
quietly
;
but
I
attempted
no
disguise
—
I
assumed
no
fictitious
name
.
'
Ah
!
I
can
penetrate
further
into
the
human
heart
than
most
people
:
my
experience
of
the
world
is
of
no
common
order
.
"
"
It
would
seem
not
,
"
said
Vernon
:
"
especially
as
you
also
appear
to
know
Anthony
Tidkins
,
since
you
recognised
him
in
my
society
the
other
night
.
"
"
There
are
few
men
at
all
notorious
for
their
good
or
evil
deeds
,
in
this
great
city
,
who
are
unknown
to
me
,
"
observed
Greenwood
,
calmly
.
"
But
permit
me
to
continue
.
You
are
here
—
in
this
country
,
while
really
deemed
to
be
abroad
—
under
circumstances
of
no
ordinary
mystery
;
your
brother
smokes
the
tobacco
you
so
kindly
sent
him
—
and
dies
;
your
associate
the
Resurrection
Man
and
you
are
now
about
to
proceed
to
Ravensworth
Hall
—
doubtless
convinced
that
you
have
allowed
a
sufficient
interval
to
elapse
since
your
brother
's
death
in
the
middle
of
February
,
to
maintain
the
belief
—
where
such
belief
suits
your
purposes
—
that
you
have
only
just
had
time
to
receive
that
intelligence
in
the
East
,
and
thence
return
to
England
.
Can
you
deny
one
tittle
of
my
most
reasonable
conjectures
?
"
"
Greenwood
,
you
are
an
extraordinary
man
,
"
cried
Vernon
,
affecting
an
ease
which
he
did
not
feel
and
a
sudden
familiarity
which
he
did
not
like
.
"
Did
I
not
before
say
that
I
would
no
longer
attempt
to
mislead
you
?
And
I
am
willing
to
secure
you
as
my
friend
.
"
"
You
now
speak
to
the
point
.
I
candidly
confess
that
I
have
told
you
all
I
suspect
or
know
concerning
yourself
and
your
affairs
,
"
proceeded
Greenwood
;
"
and
I
am
perfectly
indifferent
as
to
whether
you
choose
to
enlighten
me
farther
,
or
not
.
Doubtless
you
have
some
defined
course
to
pursue
;
or
else
the
aid
of
the
Resurrection
Man
would
be
unnecessary
.
But
whether
you
hope
to
inherit
largely
under
your
deceased
brother
's
will
;
or
whether
you
can
establish
claims
that
may
benefit
you
,
in
spite
of
the
existence
of
the
infant
heir
of
Ravensworth
,
who
was
born
a
month
ago
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
the
birth
of
that
heir
has
well-nigh
destroyed
all
my
hopes
!
"
interrupted
Vernon
,
again
rising
from
his
seat
.
"
But
,
tell
me
—
what
do
you
require
at
my
hands
?
how
am
I
to
secure
you
as
my
friend
?
how
am
I
to
purchase
your
continued
silence
concerning
all
you
have
divined
or
now
know
?
"
"
With
money
,
"
replied
Greenwood
:
"
with
that
article
which
buys
every
thing
in
this
world
!
"
"
Money
!
—
I
have
none
!
"
exclaimed
Vernon
.
"
But
ere
long
—
—
"
"
Stay
!
"
cried
Greenwood
:
"
tell
me
nothing
of
your
schemes
—
nothing
of
your
projects
!
I
would
rather
remain
in
ignorance
of
the
designs
you
may
have
in
view
;
for
,
look
you
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
—
though
,
between
ourselves
,
I
am
not
over
nice
in
some
matters
,
as
you
may
probably
suppose
from
the
fact
that
Anthony
Tidkins
is
known
to
me
,
as
well
as
from
my
readiness
to
receive
a
bribe
to
ensure
my
secrecy
in
respect
to
your
proceedings
,
—
yet
I
do
not
care
if
I
tell
you
that
I
shudder
when
I
think
of
the
lengths
to
which
you
have
already
gone
—
to
which
,
perhaps
,
you
are
still
prepared
to
go
!
"
"
Was
it
to
read
me
a
moral
lecture
that
you
sought
this
interview
?
"
demanded
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
,
with
a
contemptuous
curl
of
the
lip
.
"
No
—
far
from
that
!
"
responded
Greenwood
.
"
And
therefore
enough
of
this
style
of
discourse
on
my
part
.
Still
the
observations
were
not
unnecessary
;
for
they
serve
to
explain
the
relative
positions
in
which
we
stand
.
You
have
already
committed
one
fearful
crime
—
and
I
know
it
:
perhaps
you
meditate
another
—
and
I
suspect
it
.
But
it
is
not
for
me
to
betray
you
—
nor
to
reason
with
you
:
—
I
am
not
inclined
to
do
either
—
provided
you
are
grateful
.
"
"
Mr.
Greenwood
,
"
said
Vernon
,
speaking
thickly
between
his
set
teeth
,
"
you
shall
have
a
noble
reward
,
if
you
religiously
keep
my
secret
.
"
"
Such
is
the
understanding
at
which
I
was
desirous
to
arrive
,
"
observed
Greenwood
.
Gilbert
Vernon
then
took
his
leave
,
in
no
very
enviable
state
of
mind
under
the
conviction
that
his
crimes
had
placed
him
so
entirely
in
the
power
of
such
an
extortioner
as
the
Member
for
Rottenborough
.
We
must
observe
,
ere
we
conclude
the
chapter
,
that
Filippo
,
the
Italian
valet
,
had
listened
at
the
door
of
the
drawing-room
where
this
interview
took
place
;
and
that
not
a
syllable
of
the
whole
conversation
was
lost
upon
him
.
In
the
evening
Filippo
obtained
leave
of
absence
for
a
few
hours
;
and
he
availed
himself
of
this
license
to
repair
to
the
villa
in
which
Eliza
Sydney
dwelt
.
CHAPTER
CCXXXII
.
SCENES
AT
RAVENSWORTH
HALL
.
It
was
about
five
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
of
the
same
day
on
which
the
interview
between
George
Montague
Greenwood
and
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
took
place
,
that
a
post-chaise
advanced
rapidly
through
Ravensworth
Park
,
towards
the
Hall
.
In
a
few
minutes
it
stopped
at
the
principal
entrance
of
the
mansion
;
and
the
Honourable
Mr.
Vernon
alighted
.
Quentin
,
who
received
him
,
made
some
inquiry
in
a
respectful
tone
concerning
his
baggage
.
"
My
valet
will
be
here
in
the
evening
with
my
trunks
,
"
replied
Vernon
,
abruptly
.
Thus
,
without
committing
himself
by
a
positive
assertion
,
he
led
Quentin
and
the
other
domestics
who
were
present
to
infer
that
he
had
only
just
arrived
in
England
,
and
had
left
his
servant
in
London
to
clear
his
baggage
at
the
Custom-House
.
Quentin
bowed
as
he
received
that
answer
,
and
hastened
to
conduct
Mr.
Vernon
to
the
drawing-room
where
Lady
Ravensworth
was
seated
.
The
widow
and
her
brother-in-law
now
met
for
the
first
time
.
Vernon
saw
before
him
a
young
and
beautiful
woman
,
very
pale
,
and
with
a
countenance
whose
expression
denoted
much
suffering
—
mental
rather
than
physical
.
It
was
true
that
she
had
only
lately
become
a
mother
,
—
that
little
more
than
a
month
had
elapsed
since
she
had
given
birth
to
an
heir
to
the
proud
title
and
broad
lands
of
Ravensworth
;
—
and
though
the
pallor
of
her
face
was
the
natural
consequence
of
so
recent
an
event
,
yet
the
physical
languor
which
usually
follows
also
,
had
given
place
to
a
nervousness
of
manner
—
a
restlessness
of
body
—
a
rapid
wandering
of
the
eyes
—
and
an
occasional
firm
compression
of
the
lips
,
which
indicated
an
uneasy
mind
.
Alas
!
upon
that
woman
's
soul
lay
a
crime
,
heavy
and
oppressive
as
a
weight
of
lead
!
The
voice
of
the
murdered
