herown
?
what
excuse
could
she
offer
to
those
who
knew
her
,
for
settling
in
any
other
part
of
the
suburbs
of
London
?
—
for
near
,
though
not
in
,
the
capital
had
she
resolved
to
dwell
,
in
order
to
be
enabled
to
see
her
parents
occasionally
,
and
Eliza
Sydney
frequently
.
In
addition
to
all
the
influences
,
moral
and
worldly
,
now
enumerated
,
there
was
another
which
had
confirmed
Adeline
in
the
idea
of
returning
to
the
Hall
.
But
this
was
a
secret
influence
for
which
she
could
not
account
,
—
an
influence
that
ever
interposed
amidst
her
waverings
,
to
settle
them
in
favour
of
the
project
,
—
one
of
those
influences
to
which
even
the
strongest
minds
are
frequently
subject
,
and
for
the
existence
of
which
they
can
give
no
satisfactory
reason
.
Such
an
influence
as
this
the
Turk
would
denominate
the
irresistible
current
of
Destiny
;
but
the
pious
Christian
believes
it
to
be
the
secret
and
all-powerful
will
of
heaven
.
Let
us
,
however
,
proceed
with
our
narrative
.
The
intruders
had
departed
;
and
Lady
Ravensworth
was
as
it
were
alone
in
that
vast
mansion
which
had
so
many
sad
and
gloomy
memorials
for
her
!
She
entered
the
drawing-room
where
Egerton
's
party
had
banqueted
;
and
,
seeing
the
table
covered
with
the
bottles
and
glasses
,
turned
away
in
disgust
.
Passing
into
the
adjacent
suite
of
apartments
,
she
opened
the
shutters
,
and
gazed
around
the
large
and
lonely
rooms
in
which
the
silence
of
death
seemed
to
reign
.
She
looked
at
the
pictures
which
hung
upon
the
walls
;
and
then
it
struck
her
that
some
change
had
taken
place
in
those
rooms
,
each
feature
of
which
she
remembered
well
.
The
more
earnestly
she
gazed
about
her
,
the
firmer
became
her
conviction
that
every
thing
was
not
as
she
had
left
it
.
At
length
she
perceived
that
three
or
four
of
the
most
valuable
pictures
had
disappeared
:
a
costly
time-piece
,
too
,
was
missing
from
the
mantel
of
one
apartment
:
several
ornaments
were
wanting
in
another
.
Thinking
that
these
objects
might
have
been
shifted
from
their
usual
places
,
she
entered
another
suite
of
rooms
;
and
there
,
instead
of
finding
the
things
which
were
lost
from
the
first
,
she
perceived
more
vacancies
amongst
the
pictures
and
the
ornaments
.
The
conduct
of
the
old
gardener
in
allowing
a
party
of
persons
to
use
the
mansion
,
the
care
of
which
had
been
entrusted
to
him
,
recurred
more
forcibly
than
at
first
to
her
mind
:
and
what
had
hitherto
appeared
a
comparatively
venial
fault
,
now
assumed
a
complexion
,
when
coupled
with
the
disappearance
of
the
pictures
and
ornaments
above-mentioned
,
which
naturally
created
in
her
mind
alarming
suspicions
of
his
honesty
.
She
rang
the
bell
:
her
French
servant
responded
to
the
summons
;
and
Adeline
desired
that
the
gardener
might
be
immediately
sent
into
her
presence
.
The
maid
withdrew
,
and
conveyed
by
signs
the
order
which
she
had
received
;
for
she
was
unable
to
speak
a
single
word
of
English
.
The
old
man
,
who
was
deliberating
with
his
wife
upon
the
best
means
of
breaking
to
Lady
Ravensworth
the
unpleasant
fact
of
there
being
a
putrid
corpse
in
the
mansion
at
that
very
moment
,
received
the
command
with
a
ludicrous
expression
of
fear
and
vexation
on
his
countenance
;
and
he
repaired
to
the
presence
of
his
mistress
in
a
state
of
mind
about
as
agreeable
as
if
he
were
on
his
road
to
an
auto-da-fé
.
"
Abraham
,
"
said
Lady
Adeline
,
"
there
are
certain
circumstances
which
render
my
return
to
this
house
far
from
pleasant
.
Almost
heart-broken
by
the
loss
of
that
dear
,
dear
child
who
constituted
my
only
earthly
joy
,
I
come
back
to
my
native
land
with
the
hope
of
at
least
finding
tranquillity
and
peace
in
the
retirement
of
Ravensworth
Hall
.
But
scarcely
do
I
alight
from
my
carriage
,
when
I
encounter
upon
the
very
threshold
of
my
home
a
party
of
revellers
whom
your
imprudence
permitted
to
celebrate
their
orgies
within
these
walls
.
This
fault
I
was
inclined
to
pardon
:
but
when
,
upon
the
first
superficial
glance
around
the
principal
apartments
,
I
perceive
that
many
valuable
articles
have
disappeared
—
—
"
"
Disappeared
,
my
lady
!
"
cried
the
old
man
,
starting
in
a
manner
rather
indicative
of
surprise
than
of
guilt
.
"
Yes
,
Abraham
,
"
returned
Lady
Ravensworth
,
severely
:
"
pictures
—
ornaments
—
time-pieces
—
China
bowls
—
and
several
objects
of
less
value
are
missing
from
these
apartments
.
Have
you
removed
them
elsewhere
?
"
"
Oh
!
my
lady
,
"
cried
the
gardener
,
"
you
ca
n't
think
that
I
would
rob
you
!
As
God
is
my
judge
,
neither
me
nor
my
wife
has
touched
a
single
thing
in
the
place
—
leastways
,
unless
it
was
to
dust
and
clean
'
em
.
The
doors
has
been
kept
locked
—
—
"
"
But
if
you
have
been
in
the
habit
of
allowing
strangers
the
use
of
these
apartments
—
—
"
"
No
,
my
lady
—
this
was
the
fust
and
the
last
time
that
me
and
my
old
'
ooman
did
such
a
thing
,
"
exclaimed
the
,
gardener
,
emphatically
:
"
and
we
did
n't
know
we
was
a-doing
anythink
so
wery
wrong
—
seeing
your
ladyship
was
n't
here
.
"
"
And
you
have
not
even
observed
that
certain
pictures
and
ornaments
had
disappeared
?
"
inquired
Adeline
,
who
knew
not
what
to
conjecture
—
for
the
manner
and
words
of
the
old
man
were
stamped
with
honesty
.
"
Never
,
my
lady
—
we
never
noticed
it
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
For
my
part
,
I
seldom
come
into
these
rooms
at
all
:
but
my
old
'
ooman
dusted
'
em
out
reglar
once
a
month
or
so
;
and
if
she
'd
missed
anythink
I
should
have
knowed
of
it
in
a
moment
.
But
—
—
"
"
But
what
,
Abraham
?
"
said
Lady
Ravensworth
,
in
a
kinder
tone
.
"
There
's
one
circumstance
that
has
troubled
me
and
my
wife
more
than
once
—
or
twice
—
or
a
dozen
times
,
my
lady
:
and
yet
—
—
"
"
Speak
candidly
.
Why
do
you
hesitate
?
"
The
old
man
cast
a
hurried
glance
around
,
—
for
it
was
now
growing
dusk
,
—
and
,
sinking
his
voice
to
a
whisper
,
he
said
,
"
The
Hall
is
troubled
,
my
lady
.
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
starting
from
her
seat
,
as
if
those
words
had
electrified
her
.
"
Explain
yourself
,
old
man
—
speak
!
"
"
Ah
!
my
lady
—
there
's
no
doubt
on
it
!
"
returned
Abraham
,
again
looking
suspiciously
around
.
"
Mr.
Vernon
ca
n't
rest
in
his
grave
—
his
sperret
walks
—
—
"
"
A
truce
to
this
idle
folly
!
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
,
her
tone
once
more
becoming
severe
.
Had
the
old
man
assured
her
that
he
had
seen
the
spirit
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
,
she
would
have
been
suddenly
overwhelmed
by
a
feeling
of
tremendous
awe
;
and
she
would
have
sunk
beneath
the
appalling
weight
of
an
announcement
the
truth
of
which
she
would
not
have
dared
to
question
.
This
influence
,
however
,
could
only
have
been
exercised
over
her
by
the
superstition
associated
with
her
own
dread
crime
;
and
when
,
contrary
to
her
expectation
,
but
greatly
to
her
relief
—
the
phantom
she
so
much
dreaded
was
not
the
one
of
which
the
old
man
spoke
,
she
immediately
rejected
his
tale
as
unworthy
of
credit
.
"
A
truce
to
this
idle
folly
!
"
she
cried
;
"
and
prepare
yourself
to
give
the
explanations
which
my
solicitor
may
require
at
your
hands
to-morrow
.
Leave
me
.
"
"
I
hope
your
ladyship
—
—
"
"
Leave
me
,
I
say
;
and
send
my
maid
up
with
lights
.
"
"
Yes
,
my
lady
—
certainly
I
will
,
"
returned
the
old
man
,
without
moving
from
the
place
where
he
stood
:
"
but
before
I
go
—
I
must
acquaint
your
ladyship
—
leastways
,
I
must
in
dooty
state
that
—
though
it
ai
n't
a
wery
pleasant
thing
—
still
it
was
n't
my
fault
—
as
my
old
'
ooman
can
prove
to
your
ladyship
—
—
"
"
Leave
me
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
in
a
tone
which
showed
that
she
was
determined
to
be
obeyed
.
"
If
you
have
any
apology
to
offer
for
your
conduct
—
which
,
I
regret
to
say
,
is
now
placed
beyond
all
doubt
by
the
confusion
of
your
manner
—
you
must
satisfy
my
legal
adviser
upon
that
head
.
Fear
not
,
however
,
that
I
will
seek
to
punish
an
old
man
who
cannot
have
many
years
to
remain
in
this
world
:
no
—
I
am
not
vindictive
—
my
own
sufferings
,
"
she
added
,
with
a
profound
sigh
,
"
have
taught
me
to
be
merciful
to
others
.
But
I
do
not
desire
to
prolong
this
conversation
now
.
Leave
me
,
I
repeat
—
leave
me
!
"
The
gardener
endeavoured
to
obtain
a
farther
hearing
—
for
he
was
most
anxious
to
communicate
the
fact
of
the
dead
body
being
in
the
house
;
but
Adeline
waved
her
hand
in
a
manner
so
authoritative
,
that
the
poor
old
man
had
no
alternative
than
to
obey
.
He
accordingly
left
the
room
,
quite
bewildered
by
the
injurious
suspicions
which
had
arisen
in
the
mind
of
his
mistress
against
his
honesty
;
for
he
had
spoken
naught
save
the
plain
truth
when
he
declared
that
the
disappearance
of
the
pictures
and
ornaments
had
never
been
observed
by
either
himself
or
his
wife
.
The
French
maid
carried
lights
up
to
the
drawing-room
,
and
received
from
Lady
Ravensworth
instructions
to
prepare
the
bed-chamber
situate
in
the
northern
extremity
of
the
building
:
this
,
in
fact
,
was
the
same
apartment
that
Adeline
had
occupied
after
she
had
ceased
to
inhabit
her
boudoir
,
and
during
the
interval
between
the
murder
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
and
the
suicide
of
Gilbert
Vernon
.
The
lady's-maid
retired
to
fulfil
her
mistress
's
directions
;
and
Adeline
was
left
once
more
alone
.
The
solemn
silence
that
prevailed
throughout
the
mansion
added
to
the
depression
of
her
spirits
;
and
she
could
not
combat
against
a
vague
presentiment
of
approaching
evil
,
which
gradually
acquired
a
greater
influence
over
her
.
It
is
well
known
that
many
animals
have
an
instinctive
knowledge
of
impending
danger
,
even
while
its
source
remains
as
yet
unseen
.
The
noble
steed
that
bears
the
traveller
through
the
forest
,
snuffs
the
air
,
paws
the
ground
,
and
swerves
uneasily
from
his
path
,
when
in
the
vicinity
of
the
lair
where
the
lion
lies
concealed
:
the
little
bird
flutters
wildly
above
the
thicket
which
hides
the
lurking
snake
;
—
and
the
buffalo
trembles
through
every
limb
as
he
approaches
the
tree
from
the
dense
foliage
of
which
,
high
over
head
,
the
terrible
anaconda
is
prepared
to
spring
.
Is
such
a
feeling
as
this
never
known
to
human
beings
?
We
believe
that
it
is
.
And
certain
was
it
that
Adeline
became
the
prey
of
a
similar
influence
—
vague
,
sinister
,
and
undefined
,
—
as
she
sate
in
the
loneliness
of
the
large
apartment
around
which
her
glances
wandered
with
an
uneasiness
that
did
not
diminish
.
She
rose
from
her
seat
and
walked
to
the
window
:
it
was
now
quite
dark
—
the
sky
was
overclouded
—
and
neither
moon
nor
stars
appeared
.
"
I
could
wish
that
the
evening
were
less
gloomy
,
"
she
said
to
herself
.
"
And
how
long
Quentin
seems
to
be
!
"
Then
she
remembered
that
he
had
many
purchases
to
make
;
for
it
was
not
expected
that
the
gardener
would
have
provided
the
requisite
stock
of
provisions
and
necessaries
,
even
if
he
had
received
the
letter
announcing
Lady
Ravensworth
's
intended
return
.
"
Still
I
wish
he
would
come
!
"
said
Adeline
.
"
He
is
a
faithful
servant
—
and
I
should
feel
more
secure
were
he
near
me
.
What
can
be
this
dreadful
depression
of
spirits
which
I
experience
?
Alas
!
happiness
and
I
have
long
been
strangers
to
each
other
:
but
never
—
never
have
I
felt
as
I
do
to-night
!
"
She
started
:
it
struck
her
that
the
handle
of
the
folding
doors
communicating
with
the
next
room
was
agitated
.
Yes
:
it
was
no
delusion
—
some
one
was
about
to
enter
.
Yielding
to
fears
which
were
the
more
intense
because
they
were
altogether
inexplicable
,
she
leant
against
the
wall
for
support
—
her
eyes
fixed
,
under
the
influence
of
a
species
of
fascination
,
upon
the
doors
at
the
farther
extremity
of
the
room
.
Slowly
did
one
of
those
folding-doors
open
;
and
for
an
instant
,
in
the
wild
turmoil
of
her
feelings
,
the
unhappy
woman
half
expected
to
behold
the
spectre
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
appear
before
her
.
But
—
no
:
it
was
a
man
who
entered
.
The
lights
flared
with
the
draught
created
by
the
opening
of
that
door
;
and
for
a
few
moments
Adeline
could
only
perceive
the
dark
form
,
without
being
able
to
distinguish
his
features
.
Not
long
,
however
,
did
this
painful
uncertainty
last
;
for
as
the
intruder
advanced
towards
the
almost
fainting
lady
,
the
light
suddenly
shone
full
upon
his
countenance
;
—
and
,
with
feelings
of
indescribable
horror
,
she
once
more
found
herself
in
the
presence
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
CHAPTER
CCXLIX
.
THE
RESURRECTION
MAN
'S
LAST
FEAT
AT
RAVENSWORTH
HALL
.
"
Holy
God
protect
me
!
"
shrieked
Adeline
,
staggering
to
a
sofa
,
on
which
she
fell
.
But
her
senses
did
not
leave
her
:
a
profound
conviction
of
the
terrible
position
in
which
she
was
again
placed
,
suddenly
nerved
her
with
a
courage
and
a
strength
that
astonished
even
herself
;
and
,
starting
from
the
sofa
,
she
confronted
the
Resurrection
Man
,
saying
,
"
What
do
you
here
?
"
"
That
's
my
business
,
"
answered
Tidkins
,
gruffly
.
"
You
see
that
I
am
here
:
—
here
I
have
been
for
a
long
time
—
and
here
I
shall
remain
as
much
longer
as
it
suits
my
purpose
.
That
is
,
"
he
added
,
with
a
significant
leer
,
"
unless
you
make
it
worth
my
while
to
take
myself
off
.
"
"
Detestable
extortioner
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
:
"
am
I
never
to
know
peace
again
?
"
"
Well
—
now
that
's
your
business
,
my
lady
,
"
replied
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
The
fact
is
,
I
find
this
place
so
much
to
my
liking
,
and
it
answers
my
views
as
well
as
my
safety
so
well
,
that
I
am
in
no
hurry
to
quit
it
.
You
may
look
as
black
as
you
please
:
but
you
ought
to
know
by
this
time
that
Tony
Tidkins
is
not
the
man
to
be
frightened
by
a
lady
's
frown
.
"
"
The
law
will
protect
me
,
"
said
Adeline
,
now
labouring
under
the
most
painful
excitement
.
"
Yes
—
and
punish
you
too
,
"
added
the
Resurrection
Man
,
coolly
.
"
Now
listen
to
me
,
"
continued
Lady
Ravensworth
,
speaking
with
hysterical
volubility
:
"
human
forbearance
has
limits
—
human
patience
has
bounds
.
My
forbearance
is
exhausted
—
my
patience
is
worn
out
.
Sooner
than
submit
to
your
persecutions
—
sooner
than
be
at
the
mercy
of
your
extortions
,
—
I
will
seek
redress
at
the
hands
of
justice
—
aye
,
even
though
I
draw
down
its
vengeance
upon
my
own
head
at
the
same
time
!
"
And
she
flew
towards
the
bell-pull
.
But
the
Resurrection
Man
caught
her
ere
her
hand
could
reach
the
rope
;
and
dragging
her
back
,
he
pushed
her
brutally
upon
the
sofa
.
Then
,
drawing
a
pistol
from
his
pocket
,
he
said
in
a
terribly
ominous
tone
,
"
If
you
attempt
that
dodge
again
,
I
'll
shoot
you
through
the
head
as
sure
as
you
're
now
a
living
woman
.
"
Adeline
contemplated
him
with
eyes
expressive
of
the
wildest
alarm
.
"
You
see
that
it
's
no
use
to
play
tricks
with
me
,
young
lady
,
"
continued
the
Resurrection
Man
,
as
he
replaced
the
pistol
in
his
pocket
.
"
What
is
it
that
you
require
?
"
asked
Adeline
,
in
a
faint
and
supplicating
tone
:
"
what
can
I
do
to
induce
you
to
depart
and
never
molest
me
more
?
Oh
!
have
mercy
upon
me
,
I
implore
you
—
have
mercy
upon
me
!
I
have
no
friends
to
protect
me
:
I
am
widowed
and
childless
.
My
poor
boy
has
been
snatched
from
me
—
my
sole
earthly
solace
is
gone
!
But
why
do
you
persecute
me
thus
?
Have
I
ever
injured
you
?
If
you
hate
me
—
if
you
look
upon
me
as
an
enemy
,
kill
me
outright
:
—
do
not
—
do
not
take
my
life
by
inches
.
Your
presence
is
slow
torture
!
"
"
Will
you
listen
to
reason
?
"
demanded
Tidkins
:
"
can
you
speak
calmly
for
a
few
minutes
?
"
"
I
will
—
I
can
,
"
returned
Adeline
,
shuddering
dreadfully
as
the
Resurrection
Man
drew
nearer
to
her
.
"
Well
,
then
—
if
you
keep
your
word
,
our
business
will
soon
be
brought
to
an
end
,
"
he
said
,
planting
himself
coolly
in
a
chair
opposite
to
her
.
"
You
must
know
that
I
've
been
living
in
this
house
almost
ever
since
you
left
it
.
"
"
Living
here
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
indignation
mastering
a
considerable
portion
of
her
terror
.
"
Yes
—
living
here
as
snug
as
a
bug
in
a
rug
,
"
returned
Tidkins
,
chuckling
as
if
he
considered
the
fact
to
be
an
excellent
joke
.
"
The
truth
is
I
had
certain
reasons
of
my
own
for
being
either
in
or
near
London
:
and
I
looked
about
for
a
safe
place
.
Happening
to
pass
this
way
a
few
weeks
after
that
business
about
Vernon
,
you
know
—
—
"
"
Proceed
—
proceed
!
"
said
Adeline
,
impatiently
.
"
I
'm
in
no
hurry
,
"
replied
Tidkins
.
"
But
my
servant
may
come
—
Quentin
will
be
here
shortly
—
I
expect
him
every
minute
—
—
"
"
He
wo
n't
hurt
me
,
my
lady
,
"
said
Tidkins
,
calmly
.
"
If
he
attempted
to
lay
a
hand
on
me
,
I
'd
shoot
him
on
the
spot
.
However
,
I
will
go
on
quicker
—
since
you
wish
it
.
Well
,
as
I
was
saying
,
I
passed
by
this
way
and
saw
the
house
all
shut
up
.
Inquiries
at
the
village
down
yonder
let
me
know
that
you
was
gone
,
and
that
there
was
no
one
but
an
old
man
and
his
wife
about
the
premises
.
Nothing
could
suit
me
better
:
I
resolved
to
take
up
my
quarters
here
directly
;
—
and
I
pitched
upon
the
very
room
where
Vernon
threw
himself
out
of
the
window
.
One
day
I
heard
the
two
old
people
talking
in
the
next
apartment
,
which
they
were
dusting
out
;
and
I
found
,
by
their
discourse
,
that
they
believed
in
ghosts
.
That
was
a
glorious
discovery
for
me
:
I
soon
saw
that
certain
little
devices
which
I
practised
made
them
think
that
Vernon
's
spirit
haunted
the
place
—
and
so
I
boldly
opened
the
shutters
and
made
myself
comfortable
,
when
I
took
it
into
my
head
.
They
were
n't
at
the
house
,
it
seems
,
when
I
was
staying
here
two
years
ago
;
and
so
they
did
n't
know
who
I
really
was
.
Thus
,
when
they
saw
me
standing
in
the
balcony
—
which
I
often
did
just
to
amuse
myself
by
frightening
them
a
little
—
they
firmly
believed
it
was
Gilbert
Vernon
's
spirit
that
haunted
the
place
.
Lord
!
how
I
have
laughed
sometimes
at
the
poor
old
souls
!
"
"
It
is
you
,
then
,
"
cried
Adeline
,
a
sudden
idea
striking
her
,
"
who
have
been
plundering
the
Hall
during
my
absence
?
"
"
Well
—
you
may
call
it
by
that
name
,
if
you
like
,
"
said
Tidkins
,
with
the
most
provoking
calmness
.
"
I
do
n't
hesitate
to
admit
that
I
have
now
and
then
walked
off
with
a
small
picture
—
or
a
time-piece
—
or
a
mantel
ornament
—
or
what
not
—
just
to
raise
supplies
for
the
time
being
.
But
you
ought
to
be
very
much
obliged
to
me
that
I
've
left
any
thing
at
all
in
the
whole
place
.
Such
forbearance
is
n't
quite
in
keeping
with
my
usual
disposition
.
"
"
Villain
!
this
to
me
—
and
said
so
coolly
!
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
,
again
starting
from
her
seat
.
"
Pray
keep
where
you
are
,
ma'am
,
"
observed
Tidkins
,
pushing
her
back
again
upon
the
sofa
;
"
you
promised
to
listen
to
reason
.
"
"
Reason
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
:
"
and
do
you
call
it
reason
when
I
am
compelled
to
hear
the
narrative
of
your
villanies
—
the
history
of
your
depredations
on
my
property
?
"
"
You
knew
what
I
was
when
you
sought
my
acquaintance
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
;
"
and
after
all
,
I
've
only
just
been
taking
the
little
liberties
which
one
friend
may
use
with
another
.
"
"
Friend
!
"
repeated
Adeline
,
in
a
tone
expressive
of
deep
disgust
,
as
she
retreated
as
far
back
upon
the
sofa
as
possible
.
"
Come
—
we
're
only
wasting
time
by
all
this
disputing
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
The
whole
thing
lies
in
a
nut-shell
.
You
've
come
home
again
—
and
you
want
to
enjoy
undisputed
possession
of
your
own
house
.
Well
—
that
is
reasonable
enough
.
But
,
by
so
doing
,
you
turn
me
out
of
doors
;
and
I
do
n't
exactly
know
where
I
shall
find
a
crib
so
safe
and
convenient
as
this
.
I
must
have
an
indemnity
,
then
:
and
that
is
also
reasonable
on
my
part
.
"
"
Until
you
told
me
that
you
had
robbed
the
house
,
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
in
a
tone
of
almost
ungovernable
indignation
,
—
such
as
she
had
not
experienced
for
a
long
,
long
time
,
—
"
I
was
prepared
to
purchase
your
departure
with
a
sum
of
money
:
but
now
,
—
now
that
I
have
the
most
convincing
proofs
of
your
utter
profligacy
—
even
if
such
proofs
were
wanting
,
—
now
that
I
see
the
folly
of
reposing
the
slightest
trust
in
one
who
studies
nothing
save
his
own
wants
and
interests
,
—
I
will
think
of
a
compromise
no
longer
.
"
"
You
will
repent
your
obstinacy
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
Remember
how
you
have
dared
me
on
a
former
occasion
,
and
how
I
reduced
you
to
submission
.
"
"
True
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
in
a
calmer
and
more
collected
tone
than
she
had
yet
assumed
during
this
painful
interview
:
"
but
at
that
time
I
was
crushed
by
the
weight
of
difficulties
—
overwhelmed
with
embarrassments
and
perils
of
the
most
formidable
nature
.
I
would
then
have
committed
any
new
crime
to
screen
the
former
ones
:
I
would
have
effected
any
compromise
in
order
to
avert
danger
.
But
now
—
what
is
there
to
bind
me
to
existence
?
Nothing
—
unless
it
be
the
enjoyment
of
seclusion
and
tranquillity
.
These
are
menaced
by
your
persecutions
:
and
I
will
put
an
end
to
this
intolerable
tyranny
—
or
perish
in
the
attempt
.
That
is
my
decision
.
Let
us
be
at
open
war
,
if
you
will
:
and
'
tis
thus
I
commence
hostilities
!
"
Rapid
as
thought
,
she
darted
towards
the
bell-rope
:
but
Tidkins
,
who
had
divined
her
intention
,
intercepted
her
as
before
.
Placing
his
iron
hand
on
the
nape
of
her
neck
,
he
thrust
her
violently
back
upon
the
sofa
:
then
,
ere
he
withdrew
his
hold
,
he
said
in
a
low
,
hoarse
,
and
ferocious
tone
,
"
This
is
the
last
time
I
will
be
trifled
with
.
By
Satan
!
young
woman
,
I
'll
strangle
you
,
if
this
game
continues
—
just
as
I
strangled
your
Lydia
Hutchinson
!
"
And
pushing
her
with
contemptuous
rudeness
from
him
,
he
released
her
from
his
grasp
.
For
a
few
moments
Adeline
's
breath
came
with
so
much
difficulty
,
and
her
bosom
heaved
so
convulsively
,
that
the
Resurrection
Man
feared
he
had
gone
too
far
,
and
had
done
her
some
grievous
injury
:
but
when
he
saw
her
recover
from
the
semi-strangulation
and
the
dreadful
alarm
which
she
had
experienced
in
consequence
of
his
treatment
,
his
eyes
glistened
with
ferocious
satisfaction
.
"
Let
us
make
a
long
business
short
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
coarse
and
imperious
tone
.
"
If
I
told
you
just
now
that
I
had
helped
myself
to
a
few
of
the
things
in
this
house
,
it
was
only
to
convince
you
that
I
am
not
likely
to
stick
at
trifles
in
respect
to
you
or
yours
.
You
have
money
—
and
I
want
some
.
Give
me
my
price
—
and
you
shall
never
see
me
again
.
"
"
No
—
you
may
murder
me
if
you
will
,
"
cried
Adeline
,
hysterically
:
"
but
I
will
not
submit
to
your
tyranny
any
more
.
Oh
!
you
are
a
terrible
man
—
and
I
would
sooner
die
than
live
in
the
constant
terror
of
your
persecution
!
"
"
Foolish
woman
,
give
up
this
screeching
—
or
,
by
hell
!
I
'll
settle
you
,
and
then
help
myself
to
all
I
want
,
"
cried
Tidkins
,
ferociously
.
And
at
the
same
moment
Adeline
,
whose
face
was
buried
in
her
hands
,
felt
his
iron
grasp
again
upon
the
nape
of
her
neck
.
She
started
up
with
a
half-stifled
scream
,
and
endeavoured
to
reach
the
bell-rope
a
third
time
.
But
once
more
was
she
anticipated
in
her
design
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
now
held
her
firmly
round
the
waist
by
his
left
arm
.
Then
drawing
forth
the
pistol
with
his
right
hand
,
he
placed
the
muzzle
against
Adeline
's
marble
forehead
.
"
I
must
put
an
end
to
this
nonsense
at
once
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
ferocious
tone
.
"
There
is
something
now
in
the
house
,
proud
and
obstinate
woman
as
you
are
—
that
will
make
you
fall
on
your
knees
and
beseech
me
to
remove
it
from
your
sight
.
But
we
will
try
that
test
:
and
remember
,
this
pistol
that
touches
your
forehead
is
loaded
.
Attempt
to
raise
an
alarm
—
and
I
blow
your
brains
out
.
"
"
Release
me
—
let
me
go
—
I
implore
you
!
"
murmured
Adeline
,
who
experienced
greater
loathing
at
that
contiguity
with
the
Resurrection
Man
,
than
fear
at
the
weapon
which
menaced
her
with
instantaneous
death
.
"
No
—
you
shall
come
,
"
returned
Tidkins
,
brutally
:
"
I
am
sick
of
this
reasoning
,
and
must
bring
you
to
the
point
at
once
.
"
"
Let
me
go
—
and
I
swear
to
follow
whither
you
may
choose
to
lead
,
"
said
Adeline
.
"
Well
—
now
I
release
you
on
that
condition
,
"
was
the
reply
:
and
the
horrible
man
withdrew
his
arm
and
the
pistol
simultaneously
.
But
still
keeping
the
weapon
levelled
at
the
wretched
lady
,
and
taking
a
candle
in
his
left
hand
,
he
made
a
sign
for
her
to
accompany
him
.
She
was
now
reduced
to
that
state
of
physical
nervousness
and
mental
bewilderment
,
that
she
obeyed
mechanically
,
without
attempting
to
remonstrate
—
without
even
remembering
to
ask
whither
they
were
going
.
They
left
the
room
,
and
proceeded
along
the
passage
towards
the
southern
extremity
of
the
building
,
—
Adeline
walking
on
one
side
of
the
corridor
,
and
Tidkins
on
the
other
—
the
latter
still
keeping
the
pistol
levelled
to
over-awe
the
miserable
woman
.
But
she
saw
it
not
:
she
went
on
,
because
she
mechanically
obeyed
one
in
whose
power
she
felt
herself
to
be
,
and
whose
loathsome
contiguity
she
trembled
to
dare
again
.
At
length
they
stopped
at
a
door
:
and
then
Adeline
's
memory
seemed
to
recover
all
its
powers
—
her
ideas
instantly
appeared
to
concentrate
themselves
in
one
focus
.
"
Oh
!
no
—
not
here
!
not
here
!
"
she
said
,
with
a
cold
shudder
,
as
she
suddenly
awoke
as
it
were
from
a
confused
dream
,
and
recognised
the
door
of
her
boudoir
—
the
boudoir
!
"
Then
give
me
a
thousand
pounds
—
and
I
will
leave
the
house
this
minute
,
"
returned
Tidkins
.
"
No
—
you
shall
kill
me
first
!
"
ejaculated
Adeline
,
again
recovering
courage
and
strength
,
as
if
by
instinct
she
knew
herself
to
be
standing
upon
some
fearful
precipice
.
"
I
will
resist
you
to
the
death
:
you
have
driven
me
to
desperation
!
"
And
,
springing
towards
the
Resurrection
Man
,
she
made
a
snatch
at
the
pistol
which
he
held
in
his
hand
.
But
,
eluding
her
attack
,
he
thrust
the
weapon
into
his
pocket
:
then
,
clasping
her
with
iron
vigour
in
his
right
arm
,
and
still
retaining
the
light
in
his
left
hand
,
he
burst
open
the
door
of
the
boudoir
with
his
foot
.
Adeline
uttered
a
faint
scream
,
as
he
dragged
her
into
the
room
,
the
door
of
which
he
closed
violently
behind
him
.
Then
,
holding
the
light
in
such
a
manner
that
its
beams
fell
upon
the
floor
,
and
withdrawing
his
arm
from
Adeline
's
waist
,
he
exclaimed
in
a
tone
of
ferocious
triumph
,
"
Behold
the
remains
of
the
murdered
Lydia
Hutchinson
!
"
Lady
Ravensworth
threw
one
horrified
glance
upon
the
putrid
corpse
;
and
uttering
a
terrific
scream
expressive
of
the
most
intense
agony
,
she
fell
flat
upon
the
floor
—
her
face
touching
the
feet
of
the
dead
body
.
Tidkins
raised
her
:
but
the
blood
gushed
out
of
her
mouth
.
"
Perdition
!
I
have
gone
too
far
,
"
cried
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
She
is
dead
—
and
I
have
done
as
good
as
cut
my
own
throat
!
"
It
was
indeed
true
:
Adeline
had
burst
a
blood-vessel
,
and
died
upon
the
spot
.
Tidkins
let
her
fall
heavily
upon
the
floor
,
and
throwing
down
the
candle
,
fled
from
the
mansion
,
reckless
whether
the
light
were
extinguished
or
not
.
Half
an
hour
afterwards
Quentin
was
on
his
return
to
the
Hall
,
in
a
hackney-coach
containing
,
besides
the
baggage
which
he
had
cleared
at
the
Custom-House
,
several
hampers
filled
with
the
purchases
he
had
been
making
in
the
City
.
As
he
was
thus
proceeding
through
the
park
,
he
suddenly
observed
a
strong
and
flickering
light
appearing
through
the
windows
at
the
southern
extremity
of
the
building
;
and
in
a
few
moments
the
whole
of
that
part
of
the
Hall
was
enveloped
in
flames
.
Leaping
from
the
coach
,
which
,
being
heavily
laden
,
dragged
slowly
along
,
the
valet
rushed
to
the
mansion
,
where
the
presence
of
the
fire
had
already
alarmed
the
gardener
and
his
wife
,
and
the
French
servant
.
But
of
what
avail
were
their
poor
exertions
against
the
fury
of
the
devouring
element
?
A
search
was
immediately
instituted
for
Lady
Ravensworth
:
but
she
was
not
to
be
found
in
either
of
the
drawing-rooms
.
Nor
was
she
in
any
of
the
chambers
in
the
northern
part
of
the
building
;
and
it
was
impossible
to
enter
the
southern
wing
,
which
seemed
to
be
one
vast
body
of
flame
.
The
domestics
,
finding
their
search
to
be
useless
,
were
compelled
to
form
the
dreadful
conclusion
that
their
mistress
had
perished
in
the
conflagration
.
For
six
hours
did
the
fire
rage
with
appalling
fury
;
and
though
the
inhabitants
of
the
adjacent
village
and
the
immediate
neighbourhood
flocked
to
the
scene
of
desolation
and
rendered
all
the
assistance
in
their
power
,
the
splendid
mansion
was
reduced
to
a
heap
of
ruins
.
CHAPTER
CCL
.
EGERTON
'S
LAST
DINNER
PARTY
.
We
have
already
stated
that
Egerton
was
deeply
affected
by
the
result
of
the
imposture
which
he
had
practised
upon
his
relations
.
During
the
drive
back
to
London
,
his
four
friends
—
Dunstable
,
Cholmondeley
,
Harborough
,
and
Chichester
—
vainly
endeavoured
to
rally
him
:
he
was
silent
and
thoughtful
,
and
replied
only
in
monosyllables
.
On
their
arrival
at
Stratton
Street
,
Egerton
took
leave
of
his
friends
at
the
door
without
inviting
them
to
enter
;
but
they
were
not
so
easily
disposed
of
.
They
urged
him
to
accompany
them
to
some
place
of
amusement
:
he
remained
inaccessible
to
their
solicitations
,
and
firmly
declared
his
intention
of
passing
the
remainder
of
the
evening
alone
.
They
were
at
length
compelled
to
leave
him
—
consoling
themselves
with
the
hope
that
he
would
"
sleep
off
his
melancholy
humour
,
"
and
rise
in
the
morning
as
pliant
and
ductile
in
their
hands
as
ever
.
The
four
gentlemen
had
not
long
departed
,
when
Major
Anderson
called
at
the
house
;
and
having
represented
to
the
servant
that
his
object
was
an
affair
of
some
importance
,
he
was
admitted
into
the
drawing-room
where
Egerton
was
lying
upon
the
sofa
.
"
At
length
I
find
you
alone
,
Mr.
Egerton
,
"
said
the
Major
.
"
I
have
called
every
evening
for
the
last
few
days
,
and
have
never
until
now
been
fortunate
enough
to
learn
that
you
were
at
home
.
"
"
To
what
am
I
to
attribute
the
honour
of
this
visit
?
"
asked
the
young
man
,
whom
it
struck
that
he
had
seen
the
Major
before
—
but
when
or
where
he
could
not
remember
.
"
Pardon
me
if
,
ere
I
reply
to
that
question
,
I
pause
to
observe
that
you
survey
me
with
some
attention
,
"
said
Anderson
;
"
and
I
can
divine
what
is
passing
in
your
mind
.
You
think
that
my
features
are
not
altogether
unknown
to
you
?
I
believe
this
to
be
the
case
—
for
you
have
seen
me
before
.
Indeed
I
should
have
begun
by
thanking
you
—
most
gratefully
thanking
you
for
that
generous
intention
on
your
part
which
was
interrupted
at
the
door
of
the
St.
James
's
Club-House
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
I
recollect
!
"
cried
Egerton
,
starting
up
from
his
reclining
position
.
"
But
—
—
"
"
Again
I
can
read
what
is
passing
in
your
mind
,
"
observed
the
Major
,
with
a
smile
;
"
and
I
can
appreciate
the
delicacy
which
made
you
thus
stop
short
.
You
notice
the
change
that
has
taken
place
in
my
appearance
?
Yes
—
my
circumstances
are
indeed
altered
;
and
from
a
wandering
mendicant
,
I
have
become
a
gentleman
once
more
.
But
that
change
has
been
effected
by
the
very
individual
whose
interposition
on
that
night
to
which
I
have
just
now
alluded
,
prevented
you
from
exercising
your
intended
benevolence
towards
me
.
"
"
And
that
individual
was
the
Prince
of
Montoni
,
"
said
Egerton
.
"
Oh
!
then
you
know
him
by
sight
—
—
"
"
I
knew
him
not
,
otherwise
than
by
name
,
until
that
evening
,
"
interrupted
Egerton
;
"
and
it
was
from
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Mr.
Chichester
that
I
learnt
who
the
stranger
was
.
"
"
Ah
!
his
Highness
has
good
cause
to
remember
them
also
!
"
cried
Anderson
,
to
whom
the
Prince
had
related
his
entire
history
a
day
or
two
previously
.
"
Indeed
,
"
exclaimed
Egerton
,
"
I
now
recollect
that
they
seemed
alarmed
at
his
presence
,
and
mentioned
his
name
with
trepidation
.
"
"
Well
might
they
do
so
!
"
said
the
Major
,
indignantly
.
"
But
the
Prince
himself
will
explain
to
you
those
particulars
to
which
I
allude
.
"
"
The
Prince
—
explain
to
me
!
"
cried
Egerton
.
"
Yes
:
my
object
in
calling
upon
you
is
to
request
that
you
will
either
visit
the
Prince
as
soon
as
convenient
,
or
appoint
a
day
and
an
hour
when
his
Highness
may
visit
you
.
"
"
Oh
!
I
should
be
indeed
joyful
to
form
the
acquaintance
of
that
illustrious
hero
of
whom
every
Englishman
must
feel
proud
!
"
exclaimed
Egerton
,
with
the
enthusiasm
that
was
natural
to
him
.
"
Valour
,
integrity
,
and
the
most
unbounded
humanity
are
associated
with
the
name
of
Richard
Markham
.
But
upon
what
business
can
the
Prince
be
desirous
to
honour
me
with
his
acquaintance
?
"
"
That
his
Highness
will
himself
explain
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
What
hour
will
you
appoint
for
to-morrow
to
wait
upon
the
Prince
at
his
own
residence
?
"
"
I
will
be
there
punctually
at
mid-day
,
"
answered
Egerton
.
"
And
in
the
meantime
,
"
said
Major
Anderson
,
after
a
moment
's
hesitation
,
"
it
will
be
as
well
if
you
do
not
mention
to
those
persons
with
whom
you
are
intimate
,
the
appointment
which
you
have
made
.
"
"
I
understand
you
,
sir
,
"
rejoined
Egerton
:
"
it
shall
be
as
you
suggest
.
"
The
Major
then
took
his
leave
;
and
Egerton
—
who
entertained
a
faint
suspicion
of
the
object
which
the
Prince
had
in
view
—
received
consolation
from
the
idea
that
his
illustrious
fellow
countryman
experienced
some
degree
of
interest
in
his
behalf
.
That
suspicion
was
engendered
by
the
known
philanthropy
and
anxiety
to
do
good
which
characterised
Markham
;
by
the
allusion
made
by
Anderson
to
certain
explanations
which
the
Prince
intended
to
give
relative
to
Harborough
and
Chichester
;
and
also
by
the
injunction
of
secrecy
in
respect
to
the
appointment
that
had
been
made
.
Well
knowing
that
his
four
friends
would
not
fail
to
visit
him
early
next
day
,
—
and
determined
that
they
should
not
interfere
with
his
visit
to
one
whose
acquaintance
he
so
ardently
desired
to
form
,
—
Egerton
repaired
to
an
hotel
,
where
he
passed
the
night
.
On
the
following
morning
he
was
greatly
surprised
,
and
to
some
extent
shocked
,
to
read
in
the
newspaper
the
tidings
of
the
fearful
conflagration
which
had
not
only
destroyed
Ravensworth
Hall
,
but
in
which
the
lady
who
owned
the
mansion
had
herself
perished
.
"
And
there
likewise
is
entombed
the
mystery
of
the
dead
body
!
"
said
Egerton
,
as
he
laid
aside
the
paper
.
His
toilette
was
performed
with
great
care
;
and
,
punctual
to
the
moment
,
the
young
man
knocked
at
the
door
of
Markham
Place
.
He
was
conducted
into
an
elegantly
furnished
apartment
,
where
the
Prince
advanced
to
receive
him
in
a
most
kind
and
affable
manner
.
"
You
will
perhaps
imagine
that
I
have
taken
a
very
great
liberty
with
you
,
Mr.
Egerton
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
in
requesting
you
to
call
upon
me
in
this
manner
;
but
when
you
are
made
acquainted
with
my
motives
in
seeking
the
present
interview
,
you
will
give
me
credit
for
the
most
sincere
disinterestedness
.
In
a
word
,
I
consider
it
to
be
my
duty
to
warn
you
against
at
least
two
of
those
persons
who
call
themselves
your
friends
.
"
"
My
lord
,
I
was
not
unprepared
for
such
an
announcement
,
"
said
Egerton
,
in
a
deferential
manner
.
"
Then
is
my
task
the
more
easy
,
"
exclaimed
Richard
.
"
I
allude
to
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Mr.
Chichester
,
the
latter
of
whom
assumes
the
distinction
of
Honourable
.
"
"
And
is
he
not
of
noble
birth
,
my
lord
?
"
inquired
Egerton
.
"
He
is
the
son
of
a
tradesman
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
But
that
is
no
disgrace
in
my
estimation
:
far
from
it
!
The
industrious
classes
are
the
pillars
of
England
's
greatness
;
and
I
for
one
would
rather
walk
arm-in-arm
along
the
most
fashionable
thoroughfare
with
the
honest
mechanic
or
upright
shopkeeper
,
than
boast
of
intimacy
even
with
a
King
who
is
unworthy
of
esteem
and
respect
.
"
Egerton
surveyed
with
unfeigned
admiration
the
individual
from
whose
lips
these
noble
sentiments
emanated
—
sentiments
the
more
noble
,
inasmuch
as
they
were
expressed
by
one
whose
rank
was
so
exalted
,
and
who
stood
so
high
above
his
fellow-men
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
Markham
,
"
your
friend
Mr.
Chichester
is
one
of
those
impostors
who
assume
title
and
distinction
as
well
to
aid
their
nefarious
courses
as
to
gratify
their
own
grovelling
pride
.
I
do
not
speak
with
malignity
of
that
man
—
although
I
once
suffered
so
much
through
him
:
for
were
he
to
seek
my
forgiveness
,
heaven
knows
how
readily
it
would
be
accorded
.
Neither
is
it
to
gratify
any
mean
sentiment
of
revenge
that
I
now
warn
you
against
these
two
individuals
.
My
present
conduct
is
dictated
by
a
sense
of
duty
,
and
by
an
ardent
desire
to
save
a
young
and
confiding
young
man
,
as
I
believe
you
to
be
,
from
the
snares
of
unprincipled
adventurers
.
"
"
Oh
!
now
a
light
breaks
in
upon
me
,
"
exclaimed
Egerton
;
"
and
I
recognise
in
the
actions
of
those
whom
I
lately
deemed
my
friends
,
all
the
designing
intrigues
to
which
your
Highness
alludes
!
Fool
that
I
was
to
be
thus
deceived
!
"
"
Rather
thank
heaven
that
the
means
of
redemption
have
arrived
ere
it
be
too
late
,
"
said
the
Prince
,
impressively
;
"
for
I
can
scarcely
believe
,
from
all
I
have
heard
concerning
you
,
that
your
affairs
are
in
a
state
of
ruin
which
admits
of
no
hope
.
"
"
Your
Highness
argues
truly
,
"
exclaimed
Egerton
:
"
I
have
yet
sufficient
resources
remaining
to
furnish
me
with
the
means
of
an
honourable
livelihood
.
"
"
Then
you
need
scarcely
regret
the
amount
you
have
paid
for
the
purchase
of
experience
,
"
said
the
Prince
.
"
But
allow
me
to
place
in
your
hands
proofs
of
the
iniquity
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
his
friend
.
Behold
these
two
documents
!
They
contain
the
narrative
of
as
foul
a
scheme
of
turpitude
as
ever
called
the
misdirected
vengeance
of
the
law
upon
an
innocent
victim
.
The
first
of
these
papers
is
the
confession
of
an
engraver
whom
Harborough
and
Chichester
made
the
instrument
of
that
project
which
at
one
time
covered
my
name
with
so
dark
a
cloud
.
You
seem
astonished
at
what
I
say
?
Oh
!
then
you
are
ignorant
of
that
episode
in
my
chequered
life
.
"
"
Never
have
I
heard
rumour
busy
with
your
lordship
's
name
,
save
to
its
honour
and
glory
,
"
observed
Egerton
,
in
a
tone
of
convincing
sincerity
.
"
Peruse
these
papers
—
they
will
not
occupy
you
many
minutes
,
"
returned
our
hero
,
after
a
temporary
pause
.
"
The
second
document
,
which
I
now
hand
you
,
only
came
into
my
possession
this
morning
:
it
was
signed
yesterday
afternoon
,
by
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Mr.
Chichester
—
—
"
"
Yesterday
afternoon
,
my
lord
!
"
cried
Egerton
.
"
Those
gentlemen
were
in
my
company
—
at
a
short
distance
from
London
—
—
"
"
At
Ravensworth
Park
,
"
said
Richard
,
with
a
smile
.
"
You
see
that
I
know
all
.
It
was
indeed
at
that
very
mansion
—
which
,
as
you
are
doubtless
aware
,
was
reduced
to
ashes
during
the
night
—
that
this
confession
was
drawn
up
and
signed
by
your
two
friends
.
The
engraver
,
whose
name
is
appended
to
the
first
of
those
papers
,
was
led
by
accident
to
Ravensworth
Hall
;
and
there
he
encountered
the
two
adventurers
who
had
once
made
him
their
instrument
—
their
vile
tool
!
He
compelled
them
to
draw
up
and
sign
that
second
paper
,
which
you
hold
in
your
hands
,
and
which
,
through
gratitude
for
some
trifling
act
of
kindness
that
I
was
once
enabled
to
show
him
,
he
obtained
by
working
on
their
fears
.
Scarcely
an
hour
has
elapsed
since
I
experienced
the
satisfaction
of
receiving
that
document
from
him
;
and
my
delight
was
enhanced
by
the
conviction
that
he
is
now
an
honest
—
a
worthy
—
and
a
prosperous
member
of
society
.
"
Egerton
perused
the
two
confessions
,
and
thereby
obtained
a
complete
insight
into
the
real
characters
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Mr.
Chichester
.
If
any
doubt
had
remained
in
his
mind
,
this
elucidation
was
even
more
than
sufficient
to
convince
him
that
he
had
only
been
courted
by
his
fashionable
friends
on
account
of
his
purse
;
and
heart-felt
indeed
was
the
gratitude
which
he
expressed
towards
the
Prince
for
having
thus
intervened
to
save
him
from
utter
ruin
.
But
how
was
that
gratitude
increased
,
and
how
profound
became
the
young
man
's
horror
of
the
course
which
he
had
lately
been
pursuing
,
when
Richard
drew
a
forcible
and
deeply
touching
picture
of
the
usual
career
of
the
gambler
,
—
importing
into
his
narrative
the
leading
incidents
of
Major
Anderson
's
own
biography
,
without
however
specifying
that
gentleman
's
name
,
—
and
concluding
with
an
earnest
appeal
to
Egerton
henceforth
to
avoid
the
gaming-table
,
if
he
hoped
to
enjoy
prosperity
and
peace
.
"
Would
you
rush
madly
into
a
thicket
where
venomous
reptiles
abound
?
"
demanded
the
Prince
:
"
would
you
plunge
of
your
own
accord
into
a
forest
where
the
most
terrible
wild
beasts
are
prowling
?
would
you
,
without
a
sufficient
motive
,
leave
the
wholesome
country
and
take
up
your
abode
in
a
plague-stricken
city
?
No
:
and
it
would
be
an
insult
to
your
understanding
—
to
that
intelligence
with
which
God
has
endowed
you
—
to
put
such
questions
to
you
,
were
it
not
for
the
purpose
of
conveying
a
more
impressive
moral
.
For
the
gaming-house
is
the
thicket
where
reptiles
abound
—
it
is
the
forest
where
wild
beasts
prowl
,
ravenous
after
their
prey
—
it
is
the
city
of
pestilence
into
which
one
hurries
from
the
salubrious
air
.
Pause
,
then
—
reflect
,
my
young
friend
,
—
and
say
whether
the
folly
of
the
gambler
be
not
even
as
great
as
his
wickedness
?
"
Egerton
fell
at
our
hero
's
feet
:
he
seized
the
Prince
's
hand
,
and
pressed
it
to
his
lips
—
covering
it
also
with
his
tears
.
"
You
have
converted
me
,
my
lord
—
you
have
saved
me
!
"
cried
the
young
man
,
retrospecting
with
unfeigned
horror
upon
the
desperate
career
which
he
had
lately
been
pursuing
:
"
Oh
!
how
can
I
express
my
gratitude
?
But
you
may
read
it
in
those
tears
which
I
now
shed
—
tears
of
contrition
for
the
past
,
and
bright
hopes
for
the
future
!
"
Richard
raised
the
penitent
from
his
kneeling
posture
,
saying
,
"
Enough
!
I
see
that
you
are
sincere
.
And
now
listen
to
the
plan
which
I
have
conceived
to
shame
the
men
who
have
been
preying
upon
you
;
for
such
punishment
is
their
due
—
and
it
may
even
be
salutary
.
"
The
Prince
then
unfolded
his
designs
in
this
respect
to
Egerton
;
but
it
is
not
necessary
to
explain
them
at
present
.
Suffice
it
to
say
that
the
young
man
willingly
assented
to
the
arrangement
proposed
by
one
on
whom
he
naturally
looked
at
his
saviour
;
and
when
the
scheme
was
fully
digested
,
our
hero
conducted
his
new
friend
into
an
adjoining
apartment
,
where
luncheon
was
served
up
.
Egerton
was
then
enabled
to
judge
of
the
domestic
happiness
which
prevailed
in
that
mansion
where
virtue
,
love
,
and
friendship
were
the
presiding
divinities
of
the
place
.
The
faultless
beauty
of
the
Princess
Isabella
,
—
the
splendid
charms
of
Ellen
,
—
and
the
retiring
loveliness
of
Katherine
,
fascinated
him
for
a
time
;
but
as
the
conversation
developed
the
amiability
of
their
minds
and
evinced
the
goodness
of
their
hearts
,
he
learnt
that
woman
possesses
attractions
far
—
far
more
witching
,
more
permanent
,
and
more
endearing
than
all
the
boons
which
nature
ever
bestowed
upon
their
countenances
or
their
forms
!
Old
Monroe
was
present
;
and
while
he
looked
upon
our
hero
with
all
the
affection
which
a
fond
father
might
bestow
upon
a
son
,
the
Prince
on
his
part
treated
him
with
the
respect
which
a
good
son
manifests
towards
an
honoured
father
.
Between
Markham
,
too
,
and
Mario
Bazzano
the
most
sincere
friendship
existed
:
in
a
word
,
the
bond
which
united
that
happy
family
was
one
that
time
could
never
impair
.
Three
days
after
the
event
just
recorded
,
Albert
Egerton
gave
a
dinner-party
at
his
lodgings
in
Stratton
Street
.
The
guests
were
Lord
Dunstable
,
Colonel
Cholmondeley
,
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
,
and
Mr.
Chichester
.
The
dinner-hour
was
seven
;
and
,
contrary
to
the
usual
arrangements
,
the
table
was
spread
in
the
drawing-room
,
instead
of
the
dining-room
,
which
was
behind
the
former
,
folding
doors
communicating
between
the
two
apartments
.
Let
us
suppose
the
cloth
to
have
been
drawn
,
and
the
dessert
placed
upon
the
table
.
The
wine
circulated
rapidly
;
and
never
had
Egerton
appeared
in
better
spirits
,
nor
more
affably
courteous
towards
his
friends
.
"
Well
,
I
really
began
to
suppose
that
you
had
determined
to
cut
us
altogether
,
"
said
Dunstable
,
as
he
sipped
his
wine
complacently
.
"
For
three
whole
days
we
saw
nothing
of
you
—
—
"
"
Have
I
not
already
assured
you
that
I
was
compelled
to
pass
that
time
with
my
relatives
,
in
order
to
appease
them
after
the
exposure
at
Ravensworth
?
"
exclaimed
Egerton
.
"
And
we
have
accepted
the
apology
as
a
valid
one
,
"
observed
Chichester
.
"
Upon
my
honour
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
"
if
I
had
known
you
were
doing
the
amiable
on
Finsbury
Pavement
,
I
should
have
called
just
to
help
you
in
your
endeavours
to
regain
the
favour
of
those
excellent
ladies
.
"
"
I
am
afraid
your
reception
would
have
been
none
of
the
best
,
Harborough
,
"
exclaimed
Colonel
Cholmondeley
.
"
I
must
confess
that
the
old
lady
was
terribly
enraged
,
"
said
Egerton
;
"
not
only
against
me
,
but
also
against
you
all
,
as
she
looked
upon
you
as
my
accomplices
in
the
cheat
.
"
"
Well
,
we
must
take
some
opportunity
of
making
our
peace
in
that
quarter
,
"
observed
Lord
Dunstable
.
"
I
will
send
her
a
dozen
of
champagne
and
a
Strasburg
pie
to-morrow
,
with
my
compliments
.
But
what
shall
we
do
to
pass
away
an
hour
or
two
?
"
"
What
shall
we
do
?
"
repeated
Chichester
.
"
Why
,
amuse
ourselves
—
as
gentlemen
of
rank
and
fashion
are
accustomed
—
eh
,
Egerton
?
"
"
Oh
!
decidedly
.
I
am
willing
to
fall
in
with
your
views
.
You
have
been
my
tutor
,
"
he
added
,
with
a
peculiar
smile
;
"
and
the
pupil
will
not
prove
rebellious
.
"
"
Well
said
,
my
boy
!
"
cried
Dunstable
.
"
Have
you
your
dice-box
handy
?
"
"
My
rascal
of
a
tiger
has
lost
it
,
"
answered
Egerton
.
"
But
I
know
that
the
baronet
seldom
goes
abroad
without
the
usual
implements
.
"
"
Ah
!
you
dog
!
"
chuckled
Sir
Rupert
,
as
if
mightily
amused
by
this
sally
.
"
You
are
,
however
,
quite
right
;
and
I
do
not
think
that
any
fashionable
man
about
town
should
forget
to
provide
himself
with
the
means
of
the
most
aristocratic
of
all
innocent
recreations
.
Upon
my
honour
,
that
is
my
opinion
.
"
"
Just
what
my
friend
the
Duke
of
Highgate
said
the
other
day
—
even
to
the
very
words
,
"
exclaimed
Dunstable
.
"
How
singular
!
"
observed
the
baronet
,
as
he
produced
a
box
and
a
pair
of
dice
.
"
By
the
by
,
Dunstable
,
"
said
Egerton
,
"
you
promised
to
introduce
me
to
his
Grace
.
"
"
So
I
did
,
my
dear
boy
—
and
so
I
will
.
Let
me
see
—
I
shall
see
the
Duke
on
Monday
,
and
I
will
make
an
appointment
for
him
to
join
us
at
dinner
somewhere
.
"
"
The
very
thing
,
"
said
Egerton
:
"
I
shall
be
quite
delighted
—
particularly
if
his
Grace
be
one
of
your
own
sort
.
"
"
Oh
!
he
is
—
to
the
utmost
,
"
returned
Dunstable
,
who
did
not
perceive
a
lurking
irony
beneath
the
tranquillity
of
Egerton
's
manner
.
"
I
am
glad
of
that
,
"
continued
the
young
man
.
"
If
I
only
knew
three
or
four
more
such
gay
,
dashing
,
good-hearted
fellows
as
you
all
are
,
I
should
be
as
contented
as
possible
.
By
the
way
,
Chichester
,
I
will
tell
you
a
very
odd
thing
.
"
"
Indeed
!
what
is
it
?
"
inquired
that
gentleman
.
"
Oh
!
nothing
more
than
a
strange
coincidence
.
Just
this
:
—
I
told
you
that
I
had
been
staying
a
day
or
two
with
my
respected
aunt
on
the
Pavement
.
Well
,
yesterday
I
wandered
through
the
Tower
Hamlets
—
merely
for
a
ramble
—
and
without
any
fixed
purpose
:
but
,
as
I
was
strolling
down
Brick
Lane
—
a
horrid
,
low
,
vulgar
neighbourhood
—
—
"
"
Dreadful
!
"
cried
Chichester
,
sitting
somewhat
uneasily
on
his
chair
.
"
Oh
!
terrible
—
filthy
,
degrading
,
"
continued
Egerton
,
emphatically
.
"
You
may
therefore
conceive
my
surprise
when
I
perceived
the
aristocratic
name
of
Chichester
painted
in
huge
yellow
letters
,
shaded
with
brown
,
over
a
shop-front
in
that
same
Brick
Lane
.
"
"
How
very
odd
!
"
ejaculated
Chichester
,
filling
himself
a
bumper
of
champagne
.
"
Yes
—
but
those
coincidences
of
course
do
occur
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
who
,
after
eyeing
his
host
suspiciously
,
saw
nothing
beneath
his
calm
exterior
to
indicate
a
pointed
object
in
raising
the
present
topic
.
"
And
what
made
the
thing
more
ludicrous
,
"
continued
the
young
man
,
"
was
that
over
the
aristocratic
name
of
Chichester
hung
three
dingy
yellow
balls
.
"
"
Capital
!
excellent
!
"
exclaimed
the
gentleman
whom
this
announcement
so
particularly
touched
,
and
who
scarcely
knew
how
to
cover
his
confusion
.
"
Yes
:
I
had
a
good
laugh
at
the
coincidence
,
"
said
Egerton
.
"
At
the
same
time
I
knew
very
well
that
there
could
be
nothing
in
common
between
Mr.
Chichester
,
the
pawnbroker
of
Brick
Lane
,
and
the
Honourable
Arthur
Chichester
of
the
fashionable
world
.
"
"
I
should
hope
not
,
indeed
!
"
exclaimed
Chichester
,
reassured
by
this
observation
.
"
Come
—
take
the
box
,
Egerton
,
"
said
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
"
Oh
!
willingly
,
"
replied
the
young
man
.
"
But
we
must
play
on
credit
,
because
I
have
no
money
in
the
house
;
and
he
who
loses
shall
pay
by
cheque
or
note
of
hand
.
"
"
With
pleasure
,
"
said
the
baronet
.
The
two
gentlemen
began
to
play
;
and
Egerton
lost
considerably
.
He
,
however
,
appeared
to
submit
with
extraordinary
patience
and
equanimity
to
his
ill-luck
,
and
continued
to
chatter
in
a
gay
and
unusually
jocular
manner
.
"
Seven
's
the
main
.
Come
,
Dunstable
,
fill
your
glass
:
the
wine
stands
with
you
.
By
the
by
,
has
your
rascally
steward
sent
you
up
your
remittances
yet
?
You
know
you
were
complaining
to
me
about
him
the
other
