towardsyou
equals
his
liberality
,
"
observed
Louisa
pointedly
.
"
Yes
;
notwithstanding
the
peculiarity
of
our
relative
position
,
not
a
word
,
not
a
look
disrespectful
towards
me
from
the
first
moment
of
our
acquaintance
!
He
faithfully
adheres
to
his
portion
of
the
contract
,
and
I
will
as
religiously
observe
mine
.
"
"
You
speak
wisely
and
consistently
,
"
said
Louisa
;
"
and
the
result
of
your
honourable
conduct
towards
Mr.
Stephens
will
no
doubt
be
a
recompense
which
will
establish
your
fortunes
for
life
.
"
"
That
hope
sustains
me
.
Oh
!
how
happy
,
thrice
happy
shall
I
be
,
when
,
the
period
of
my
emancipation
being
arrived
,
I
may
escape
to
some
distant
part
of
my
own
native
country
,
or
to
some
foreign
clime
,
resume
the
garb
belonging
to
my
sex
,
and
live
in
a
way
consistent
with
nature
,
and
suitable
to
my
taste
.
It
is
in
anticipation
of
those
golden
moments
that
I
from
time
to
time
retire
into
the
impenetrable
mystery
of
this
boudoir
,
and
dress
myself
in
the
garb
which
I
love
,
and
which
is
my
own
.
And
when
that
elysian
age
shall
come
,
oh
!
how
shall
I
divert
my
mind
with
a
retrospection
upon
these
long
weary
weeks
and
months
,
during
which
I
have
been
compelled
to
study
habits
opposed
to
my
taste
and
feeling
—
to
affect
a
love
of
horses
and
dogs
,
that
a
manly
predilection
may
avert
attention
from
a
feminine
countenance
,
—
and
to
measure
each
word
that
falls
from
my
lips
,
to
study
each
attitude
which
my
form
assumes
,
and
to
relinquish
pursuits
and
occupations
which
my
mind
adores
.
"
The
lady
threw
herself
back
upon
her
pillow
and
gave
way
to
a
delicious
reverie
.
Louisa
did
not
attempt
to
disturb
her
for
some
minutes
.
At
length
she
murmured
something
about
"
keeping
Mr.
Stephens
waiting
rather
longer
than
usual
;
"
and
her
mistress
,
acting
by
a
sudden
impulse
,
rose
from
her
couch
.
Then
followed
the
mysterious
toilet
.
Stays
,
curiously
contrived
,
gave
to
that
exquisitely
modelled
form
as
much
as
possible
the
appearance
of
the
figure
of
a
man
.
The
swell
of
the
bosom
,
slightly
compressed
,
was
rendered
scarcely
apparent
by
padding
skilfully
placed
,
so
as
to
fill
up
and
flatten
the
undulating
bust
.
The
position
of
the
waist
was
lowered
;
and
all
this
was
effected
without
causing
the
subject
of
so
strange
a
transformation
any
pain
or
uneasiness
.
The
semi-military
blue
frock
coat
,
buttoned
up
to
the
throat
,
completed
the
disguise
;
and
as
this
species
of
garment
is
invariably
somewhat
prominent
about
the
chest
,
the
very
fashion
of
its
make
materially
aided
an
effectual
concealment
,
by
averting
surprise
at
the
gentle
protuberance
of
the
breast
,
in
the
present
instance
.
Louisa
arranged
the
luxuriant
and
flowing
hair
with
particular
attention
,
bestowing
as
much
as
possible
a
masculine
appearance
upon
that
which
would
have
been
a
covering
worthy
of
a
queen
.
The
toilet
being
thus
completed
,
this
strange
being
to
whom
we
have
introduced
our
readers
,
descended
to
a
parlour
on
the
ground
floor
.
When
Louisa
left
the
boudoir
she
carefully
locked
the
door
and
consigned
the
key
to
her
pocket
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
THE
CONVERSATION
.
THE
parlour
which
that
lovely
and
mysterious
creature
—
who
now
seemed
a
youth
of
about
twenty
—
entered
upon
the
ground
floor
,
was
furnished
with
taste
and
elegance
.
Everything
was
light
,
airy
,
and
graceful
.
The
windows
were
crowded
with
flowers
that
imparted
a
delicious
perfume
to
the
atmosphere
,
and
afforded
a
picture
upon
which
the
eye
rested
with
pleasure
.
A
recess
was
fitted
up
with
book-shelves
,
which
were
supplied
with
the
productions
of
the
best
poets
and
novelists
of
England
and
France
.
Around
the
walls
were
suspended
several
paintings
—
chiefly
consisting
of
sporting
subjects
.
Over
the
mantel
,
however
,
were
two
miniatures
,
executed
in
water-colours
in
the
first
style
of
the
art
,
and
representing
the
one
a
lovely
youth
of
sixteen
,
the
other
a
beautiful
girl
of
twenty
.
And
never
was
resemblance
more
striking
.
The
same
soft
and
intelligent
hazel
eyes
—
the
same
light
hair
,
luxuriant
,
silky
,
and
shining
—
the
some
straight
nose
—
the
same
vermilion
lips
,
and
well-turned
chin
.
At
a
glance
it
was
easy
to
perceive
that
they
were
brother
and
sister
;
and
as
the
countenance
of
the
former
was
remarkably
feminine
and
delicate
,
the
likeness
between
them
was
the
more
striking
.
Beneath
the
miniature
of
the
brother
,
in
small
gilt
letters
upon
the
enamelled
frame
,
was
the
word
Walter
:
under
the
portrait
of
the
sister
was
the
name
of
Eliza
.
Attired
as
she
now
was
,
the
mysterious
being
whom
we
have
introduced
to
our
readers
,
perfectly
resembled
the
portrait
of
Walter
:
attired
as
she
ought
to
have
been
,
consistently
with
her
sex
,
she
would
have
been
the
living
original
of
the
portrait
of
Eliza
.
Upon
a
sofa
in
the
parlour
,
some
of
the
leading
features
of
which
we
have
just
described
,
a
man
,
dressed
with
great
neatness
,
but
no
ostentatious
display
,
was
lounging
.
He
was
in
reality
not
more
than
three
or
four
and
thirty
years
of
age
;
although
a
seriousness
of
countenance
—
either
admirably
studied
,
or
else
occasioned
by
habits
of
business
and
mental
combination
—
made
him
appear
ten
years
older
.
He
was
handsome
,
well-formed
,
and
excessively
courteous
and
fascinating
in
his
manners
:
but
,
when
he
was
alone
,
or
not
engaged
in
conversation
,
he
seemed
plunged
in
deep
thought
,
as
if
his
brain
were
working
upon
numerous
plans
and
schemes
of
mighty
and
vital
import
.
The
moment
the
heroine
of
the
boudoir
entered
the
parlour
,
Mr.
Stephens
—
for
he
was
the
individual
whom
we
have
just
described
—
rose
and
accosted
her
in
a
manner
expressive
of
kindness
,
respect
,
and
patronage
.
"
My
dear
Walter
,
"
he
exclaimed
,
"
it
is
really
an
age
since
I
have
seen
you
.
Six
weeks
have
elapsed
,
and
I
have
not
been
near
you
.
But
you
received
my
letter
,
stating
that
I
was
compelled
to
proceed
to
Paris
upon
most
particular
business
?
"
"
Yes
,
my
dear
sir
,
"
answered
the
lady
,
—
or
in
order
that
some
name
may
in
future
characterise
her
,
we
will
call
her
Walter
,
or
Mr.
Walter
Sydney
,
for
that
was
indeed
the
appellation
by
which
she
was
known
,
—
"
yes
,
my
dear
sir
,
I
received
your
letter
,
and
the
handsome
presents
and
remittances
accompanying
it
.
For
each
and
all
I
return
you
my
sincere
thanks
:
but
really
,
with
regard
to
money
,
you
are
far
too
lavish
towards
me
.
Remember
that
I
scarcely
have
any
opportunity
of
being
extravagant
,
"
added
Walter
,
with
a
smile
;
"
for
I
scarcely
ever
stir
abroad
,
save
to
take
my
daily
rides
;
and
you
know
that
I
never
receive
company
,
that
my
acquaintances
are
limited
,
so
limited
—
—
"
"
I
know
,
my
dear
Walter
,
that
you
follow
my
advice
as
closely
as
can
be
expected
,
"
said
Mr.
Stephens
.
"
Three
short
months
more
and
my
object
will
be
achieved
.
We
shall
then
be
both
of
us
above
the
reach
of
Fortune
's
caprices
and
vicissitudes
.
Oh
!
how
glorious
—
how
grand
will
be
this
achievement
!
how
well
worth
all
the
sacrifices
that
I
have
required
you
to
make
.
"
"
Ah
!
my
dear
sir
,
"
observed
Walter
,
somewhat
reproachfully
,
"
you
must
remember
that
you
are
now
talking
enigmas
to
me
;
that
I
am
at
present
only
a
blind
instrument
in
your
hands
—
a
mere
machine
—
an
automaton
—
—
"
"
Do
not
press
me
upon
this
head
,
Walter
,
"
interrupted
Mr.
Stephens
,
hastily
.
"
You
must
not
as
yet
be
led
to
comprehend
the
magnitude
of
my
views
:
you
must
have
patience
.
Surely
I
have
given
you
ample
proofs
of
my
good
feeling
and
my
honourable
views
towards
yourself
.
Only
conceive
what
would
be
your
present
position
without
me
;
not
a
relation
,
not
a
friend
in
the
wide
world
to
aid
or
protect
you
!
I
do
not
say
this
to
vaunt
my
own
conduct
:
I
am
merely
advancing
arguments
to
prove
how
confident
I
am
in
the
success
of
my
plans
,
and
how
sincere
I
am
in
my
friendship
towards
you
.
For
,
remember
,
Walter
—
I
always
forget
your
sex
:
I
only
look
upon
you
as
a
mere
boy
—
a
nephew
,
or
a
son
,
whom
I
love
.
Such
is
my
feeling
:
I
am
more
than
a
friend
;
for
,
I
repeat
,
I
feel
a
paternal
attachment
towards
you
!
"
"
And
I
entertain
feelings
of
deep
—
yes
,
of
the
deepest
gratitude
towards
you
,
"
said
Walter
.
"
But
the
motive
of
my
constant
intercession
to
be
admitted
more
into
your
confidence
,
is
to
be
convinced
—
by
my
own
knowledge
—
that
my
present
conduct
tends
to
facilitate
no
dishonest
,
no
dangerous
views
.
Oh
!
you
will
pardon
me
when
I
say
this
;
for
there
are
times
when
I
am
a
prey
to
the
most
horrible
alarms
—
when
fears
of
an
indescribable
nature
haunt
me
for
hours
together
—
and
when
I
seem
to
be
walking
blindfold
upon
the
brink
of
an
abyss
!
"
"
Walter
,
I
am
surprised
that
you
should
thus
give
way
to
suspicions
most
injurious
to
my
honour
,
"
said
Mr.
Stephens
,
whose
countenance
remained
perfectly
collected
and
unchanged
;
"
for
the
hundredth
time
do
I
assure
you
that
you
have
nothing
to
fear
.
"
"
Then
wherefore
this
disguise
?
why
this
constant
cheat
relative
to
my
sex
?
why
this
permanent
deception
?
"
demanded
Walter
,
in
an
impassioned
tone
.
"
Cannot
the
most
rigorous
honesty
be
connected
with
the
most
profound
prudence
—
the
most
delicate
caution
?
"
said
Mr.
Stephens
,
adopting
an
attitude
and
manner
of
persuasion
.
"
Do
not
judge
of
motives
by
their
mere
superficial
aspect
:
strange
devices
—
but
not
the
less
honourable
for
being
singular
—
are
frequently
required
in
the
world
to
defeat
designs
of
infamy
and
baseness
.
"
"
Pardon
my
scepticism
,
"
said
Walter
,
apparently
convinced
by
this
reasoning
;
"
I
was
wrong
,
very
wrong
to
suspect
you
.
I
will
not
again
urge
my
anxiety
to
penetrate
your
secrets
.
I
feel
persuaded
that
you
conceal
the
means
by
which
our
mutual
prosperity
is
to
be
effected
,
simply
for
my
good
.
"
"
Now
you
speak
rationally
,
my
dear
,
my
faithful
and
confiding
Walter
,
"
exclaimed
Mr.
Stephens
.
"
It
was
just
in
this
vein
that
I
was
anxious
to
find
you
;
for
I
have
an
important
communication
to
make
this
morning
.
"
"
Speak
:
I
am
ready
to
follow
your
instructions
or
advice
.
"
"
I
must
inform
you
,
Walter
,
that
in
order
effectually
to
work
out
my
plans
—
in
order
that
there
should
not
exist
the
slightest
chance
of
failure
—
a
third
person
is
required
.
It
will
be
necessary
that
he
should
be
conversant
with
our
secret
:
he
must
know
all
;
and
,
of
course
,
he
must
be
taken
care
of
hereafter
.
To
be
brief
,
I
have
already
fallen
in
with
the
very
individual
who
will
suit
me
;
and
I
have
acquainted
him
with
the
entire
matter
.
You
will
not
object
to
receive
him
occasionally
as
a
guest
?
"
"
My
dear
sir
,
how
can
I
object
?
Is
not
this
your
house
?
and
am
not
I
in
your
hands
?
You
know
that
you
can
command
me
in
all
respects
.
"
"
I
thought
that
you
would
meet
my
views
with
this
readiness
and
good
will
,
"
said
Mr.
Stephens
.
"
To
tell
you
the
real
truth
,
then
—
I
have
taken
the
liberty
of
inviting
him
to
dine
with
us
here
this
day
.
"
"
To-day
!
"
"
Yes
.
Are
you
annoyed
?
"
"
Oh
!
not
at
all
:
only
,
the
preparations
—
—
"
"
Do
not
alarm
yourself
.
While
you
were
occupied
with
your
toilet
,
I
gave
the
necessary
instructions
to
the
cook
.
The
old
woman
is
almost
blind
and
deaf
,
still
she
knows
full
well
how
to
serve
up
a
tempting
repast
;
and
as
I
am
believed
by
your
three
servants
to
be
your
guardian
,
my
interference
in
this
respect
will
not
have
appeared
strange
.
"
"
How
could
they
think
otherwise
?
"
ejaculated
Walter
.
"
Did
not
you
provide
those
dependants
who
surround
me
?
Do
they
not
look
upon
you
as
their
master
as
well
as
myself
?
Are
they
not
aware
that
the
villa
is
your
own
property
?
And
have
they
not
been
led
to
believe
—
with
the
exception
of
Louisa
,
who
alone
of
the
three
knows
the
secret
—
that
the
state
of
my
health
compelled
you
to
place
me
here
for
the
benefit
of
a
purer
air
than
that
which
your
residence
in
the
city
affords
?
"
"
Well
,
since
my
arrangements
meet
with
your
satisfaction
,
"
said
Mr.
Stephens
,
smiling
,
"
I
am
satisfied
.
But
I
should
tell
you
that
I
invited
my
friend
hither
not
only
to
dine
,
but
also
to
pass
the
day
,
that
we
might
have
an
opportunity
of
conversing
together
at
our
leisure
.
Indeed
,
"
added
Mr.
Stephens
,
looking
at
his
watch
,
"
I
expect
him
here
every
moment
.
"
Scarcely
were
the
words
uttered
when
a
loud
knock
at
the
front
door
echoed
through
the
house
.
In
a
few
minutes
Louisa
appeared
,
and
introduced
"
Mr.
Montague
.
"
CHAPTER
IX
.
A
CITY
MAN
.
—
SMITHFIELD
SCENES
.
GEORGE
Montague
was
a
tall
,
good-looking
young
man
of
about
three
or
four-and-twenty
.
His
hair
and
eyes
were
black
,
his
complexion
rather
dark
,
and
his
features
perfectly
regular
.
His
manners
were
certainly
polished
and
agreeable
;
but
there
was
,
nevertheless
,
a
something
reserved
and
mysterious
about
him
—
an
anxiety
to
avert
the
conversation
from
any
topic
connected
with
himself
—
a
studied
desire
to
flatter
and
gain
the
good
opinions
of
those
about
him
,
by
means
of
compliments
at
times
servile
—
and
an
occasional
betrayal
of
a
belief
in
a
code
of
morals
not
altogether
consistent
with
the
well-being
of
society
,
which
constituted
features
in
his
character
by
no
means
calculated
to
render
him
a
favourite
with
all
classes
of
persons
.
He
was
,
however
,
well-informed
upon
most
topics
;
ambitious
of
creating
a
sensation
in
the
world
,
no
matter
by
what
means
;
resolute
in
his
pursuit
after
wealth
,
and
careless
whether
the
paths
leading
to
the
objects
which
he
sought
were
tortuous
or
straightforward
.
He
was
addicted
to
pleasure
,
but
never
permitted
it
to
interfere
with
his
business
or
mar
his
schemes
.
Love
with
him
was
merely
the
blandishment
of
beauty
;
and
friendship
was
simply
that
bond
which
connected
him
with
those
individuals
who
were
necessary
to
him
.
He
was
utterly
and
completely
selfish
;
but
he
was
somehow
or
another
possessed
of
sufficient
tact
to
conceal
most
of
his
faults
—
of
the
existence
of
which
he
was
well
aware
.
The
consequence
was
that
he
was
usually
welcomed
as
an
agreeable
companion
;
some
even
went
so
far
as
to
assert
that
he
was
a
"
devilish
good
fellow
;
"
and
all
admitted
that
he
was
a
thorough
man
of
the
world
.
He
must
have
commenced
his
initiation
early
,
thus
to
have
acquired
such
a
character
ere
he
had
completed
his
four-and-twentieth
year
!
London
abounds
with
such
precocious
specimens
of
thorough
heartlessness
and
worldly-mindedness
.
The
universities
and
great
public
schools
let
loose
upon
society
every
half-year
a
cloud
of
young
men
,
who
think
only
how
soon
they
can
spend
their
own
property
in
order
to
prey
upon
that
of
others
.
These
are
your
"
young
men
about
town
:
"
as
they
grow
older
they
become
"
men
upon
the
town
.
"
In
their
former
capacity
they
graduate
in
all
the
degrees
of
vice
,
dissipation
,
extravagance
,
and
debauchery
;
and
in
the
latter
they
become
the
tutors
of
the
novices
who
are
entering
in
their
turn
upon
the
road
to
ruin
.
The
transition
from
the
young
man
about
town
to
the
man
upon
the
town
is
as
natural
as
that
of
a
chrysalis
to
a
butterfly
.
These
men
upon
the
town
constitute
as
pestilential
a
section
of
male
society
as
the
women
of
the
town
do
of
the
female
portion
of
the
community
.
They
are
alike
the
reptiles
produced
by
the
great
moral
dung-heap
.
We
cannot
,
however
,
exactly
class
Mr.
George
Montague
with
the
men
upon
the
town
in
the
true
meaning
of
the
phrase
,
inasmuch
as
he
devoted
his
attention
to
commercial
speculations
of
all
kinds
and
under
all
shapes
,
and
his
sphere
was
chiefly
the
City
;
whereas
men
upon
the
town
seldom
entertain
an
idea
half
"
so
vulgar
"
as
mercantile
pursuits
,
and
never
visit
the
domains
of
the
Lord
Mayor
save
when
they
want
to
get
a
bill
discounted
,
or
to
obtain
cash
for
a
check
of
too
large
an
amount
to
be
entrusted
to
any
of
their
high-born
and
aristocratic
companions
.
Mr.
George
Montague
was
,
therefore
,
one
of
that
multitudinous
class
called
"
City
men
,
"
who
possess
no
regular
offices
,
but
have
their
letters
addressed
to
the
Auction
Mart
or
Garraway
's
,
and
who
make
their
appointments
at
such
places
as
"
the
front
of
the
Bank
,
"
"
the
Custom-house
Wharf
,
"
and
"
under
the
clock
at
the
Docks
.
"
City
men
are
very
extraordinary
characters
.
They
all
know
"
a
certain
speculation
that
would
make
a
sure
fortune
,
if
one
had
but
the
capital
to
work
upon
;
"
they
never
fail
to
observe
,
while
making
this
assertion
,
that
they
could
apply
to
a
friend
if
they
chose
,
but
that
they
do
not
choose
to
lay
themselves
under
the
obligation
;
and
they
invariably
affirm
that
nothing
is
more
easy
than
to
make
a
fortune
in
the
City
,
although
the
greater
portion
of
them
remain
without
that
happy
consummation
until
the
day
of
their
deaths
.
Now
and
then
,
however
,
one
of
these
City
men
does
succeed
in
"
making
a
hit
"
by
some
means
or
other
;
and
then
his
old
friends
,
the
very
men
who
are
constantly
enunciating
the
opinion
relative
to
the
facility
with
which
fortunes
are
obtained
in
the
City
,
look
knowing
,
wink
at
each
other
,
and
declare
"
that
it
never
could
have
been
done
unless
he
'd
had
somebody
with
plenty
of
money
to
back
him
.
"
Now
Mr.
Montague
was
one
of
those
who
adopted
a
better
system
of
logic
than
the
vulgar
reasoning
.
He
knew
that
there
was
but
little
merit
in
producing
bread
from
flour
,
for
instance
;
but
he
perceived
that
there
was
immense
credit
due
to
those
who
could
produce
their
bread
without
any
flour
at
all
.
Upon
this
principle
he
acted
,
and
his
plan
was
not
unattended
with
success
.
He
scorned
the
idea
"
that
money
was
necessary
to
beget
money
;
"
he
began
his
"
City
career
,
"
as
he
sometimes
observed
,
without
a
farthing
;
and
he
was
seldom
without
gold
in
his
pocket
.
No
one
knew
where
he
lived
.
He
was
sometimes
seen
getting
into
a
Hackney
omnibus
at
the
Flower
Pot
,
a
Camberwell
one
at
the
Cross
Keys
;
or
running
furiously
after
a
Hammersmith
one
along
Cheapside
;
but
as
these
directions
were
very
opposite
,
it
was
difficult
to
deduce
from
them
any
idea
of
his
domiciliary
whereabouts
.
He
was
young
to
be
a
City
man
;
the
class
does
not
often
include
members
under
thirty
;
but
of
course
there
are
exceptions
to
all
rules
;
and
Mr.
George
Montague
was
one
.
He
was
then
a
City
man
:
but
if
the
reader
be
anxious
to
know
what
sort
of
business
he
transacted
to
obtain
his
living
;
whether
he
dabbled
in
the
funds
,
sold
wines
upon
commission
,
effected
loans
and
discounts
,
speculated
in
shares
,
got
up
joint-stock
companies
,
shipped
goods
to
the
colonies
,
purchased
land
in
Australia
at
eighteen-pence
an
acre
and
sold
it
again
at
one-and-nine
,
conducted
compromises
for
insolvent
tradesmen
,
made
out
the
accounts
of
bankrupts
,
arbitrated
between
partners
who
disagreed
,
or
bought
in
things
in
a
friendly
way
at
public
sales
;
whether
he
followed
any
of
these
pursuits
,
or
meddled
a
little
with
them
all
,
we
can
no
more
satisfy
our
readers
than
if
we
attempted
the
biography
of
the
Man
in
the
Moon
.
—
all
we
can
say
is
,
that
he
was
invariably
in
the
City
from
eleven
to
four
;
that
he
usually
had
"
an
excellent
thing
in
hand
just
at
that
moment
;
"
and
,
in
a
word
,
that
he
belonged
to
the
class
denominated
City
Men
!
We
have
taken
some
pains
to
describe
this
gentleman
;
for
reasons
which
will
appear
hereafter
.
Having
been
duly
introduced
to
Walter
Sydney
by
Mr.
Stephens
,
and
after
a
few
observations
of
a
general
nature
,
Mr.
Montague
glided
almost
imperceptibly
into
topics
upon
which
he
conversed
with
ease
and
fluency
.
Presently
a
pause
ensued
;
and
Mr.
Stephens
enquired
"
if
there
were
anything
new
in
the
City
?
"
"
Nothing
particular
,
"
answered
Montague
.
"
I
have
not
of
course
been
in
town
this
morning
;
but
I
was
not
away
till
late
last
night
.
I
had
a
splendid
thing
in
hand
,
which
I
succeeded
in
bringing
to
a
favourable
termination
.
By-the-by
,
there
was
a
rumour
on
'
Change
yesterday
afternoon
,
just
before
the
close
,
that
Alderman
Dumkins
is
all
wrong
.
"
"
Indeed
,
"
said
Stephens
;
"
I
thought
he
was
wealthy
.
"
"
Oh
!
no
;
I
knew
the
contrary
eighteen
months
ago
!
It
appears
he
has
been
starting
a
joint-stock
company
to
work
the
Ercalat
tin-mines
in
Cornwall
—
—
"
"
And
I
suppose
the
mines
do
not
really
exist
?
"
"
Oh
!
yes
;
they
do
—
upon
his
maps
!
However
,
he
has
been
exhibiting
certain
specimens
of
tin
,
which
he
has
passed
off
as
Ercalat
produce
;
and
it
is
now
pretty
generally
known
that
the
article
was
supplied
him
by
a
house
in
Aldgate
.
"
"
Then
he
will
be
compelled
to
resign
his
gown
?
"
"
Not
he
!
On
the
contrary
,
he
stands
next
in
rotation
for
the
honours
of
the
civic
chair
;
and
he
intends
to
go
boldly
forward
as
if
nothing
had
happened
.
You
must
remember
that
the
aldermen
of
the
City
of
London
have
degenerated
considerably
in
respectability
during
late
years
;
and
that
none
of
the
really
influential
and
wealthy
men
in
the
City
will
have
anything
to
do
with
the
corporation
affairs
.
You
do
not
see
any
great
banker
nor
merchant
wearing
the
aldermanic
gown
.
The
only
alderman
who
really
possessed
what
may
be
called
a
large
fortune
,
and
whose
pecuniary
position
was
above
all
doubt
,
resigned
his
gown
the
other
day
in
disgust
at
the
treatment
which
he
received
from
his
brother
authorities
,
in
consequence
of
his
connexion
with
the
Weekly
Courier
—
the
only
newspaper
that
boldly
,
fearlessly
,
and
effectually
advocates
the
people
's
cause
.
"
"
And
Dumkins
will
not
resign
,
you
think
?
"
"
Oh
!
decidedly
not
.
But
for
my
part
,
"
added
Montague
,
"
I
feel
convinced
that
the
sooner
some
change
is
made
in
the
City
administration
the
better
.
Only
conceive
the
immense
sums
which
the
corporation
receives
from
various
sources
,
and
the
uses
to
which
they
are
applied
.
Look
at
the
beastly
guzzling
at
Guildhall
,
while
there
are
in
the
very
heart
of
the
City
Augean
stables
of
filth
,
crime
,
and
debauchery
to
be
cleansed
—
witness
Petticoat-lane
,
Smithfield
—
—
"
A
species
of
groan
or
stifled
exclamation
of
horror
issued
from
the
lips
of
Walter
as
Montague
uttered
these
words
:
her
countenance
grew
deadly
pale
,
and
her
entire
frame
appeared
to
writhe
under
a
most
painful
reminiscence
or
emotion
.
"
Compose
yourself
,
compose
yourself
,
"
said
Stephens
,
hastily
.
"
Shall
I
ring
for
a
glass
of
water
,
or
wine
,
or
anything
—
—
"
"
No
,
it
is
past
,
"
interrupted
Walter
Sydney
;
"
but
I
never
think
of
that
horrible
—
that
appalling
adventure
without
feeling
my
blood
curdle
in
my
veins
.
The
mere
mention
of
the
word
Smithfield
—
—
"
"
Could
I
have
been
indiscreet
enough
to
give
utterance
to
anything
calculated
to
annoy
?
"
said
Montague
,
who
was
surprised
at
this
scene
.
"
You
were
not
aware
of
the
reminiscence
you
awoke
in
my
mind
by
your
remark
,
"
answered
Walter
,
smiling
;
"
but
were
you
acquainted
with
the
particulars
of
that
fearful
night
,
you
would
readily
excuse
my
weakness
.
"
"
You
have
excited
Mr.
Montague
's
curiosity
,
"
observed
Stephens
,
"
and
you
have
now
nothing
to
do
but
to
gratify
it
.
"
"
It
is
an
adventure
of
a
most
romantic
kind
—
an
adventure
which
you
will
scarcely
believe
—
and
yet
one
that
will
make
your
hair
stand
on
end
.
"
"
I
am
now
most
anxious
to
learn
the
details
of
this
mysterious
occurrence
,
"
said
Montague
,
scarcely
knowing
whether
these
remarks
were
made
in
jest
or
earnest
.
Walter
Sydney
appeared
to
reflect
for
a
few
moments
;
and
then
commenced
the
narrative
in
the
following
manner
:
—
"
It
is
now
a
little
more
than
four
years
ago
—
very
shortly
after
I
first
arrived
at
this
house
—
that
I
rode
into
town
,
attended
by
the
same
groom
who
is
in
my
service
now
.
I
knew
little
or
nothing
of
the
City
,
and
felt
my
curiosity
awakened
to
view
the
emporium
of
the
world
's
commerce
.
I
accordingly
determined
to
indulge
in
a
ramble
by
myself
amidst
the
streets
and
thoroughfares
of
a
place
of
which
such
marvellous
accounts
reach
those
who
pass
their
youth
in
the
country
.
I
left
the
groom
with
the
horses
at
a
livery-stable
in
Bishopsgate-street
,
with
a
promise
to
return
in
the
course
of
two
or
three
hours
.
I
then
roved
about
to
my
heart
's
content
,
and
never
gave
the
lapse
of
time
a
thought
.
Evening
came
,
and
the
weather
grew
threatening
.
Then
commenced
my
perplexities
.
I
had
forgotten
the
address
of
the
stables
where
the
groom
awaited
my
return
;
and
I
discovered
the
pleasing
fact
that
I
had
lost
my
way
just
at
the
moment
when
an
awful
storm
seemed
ready
to
break
over
the
metropolis
.
When
I
solicited
information
concerning
the
right
path
which
I
should
pursue
,
I
was
insulted
by
the
low
churls
to
whom
I
applied
.
To
be
brief
,
I
was
overtaken
by
darkness
and
by
the
storm
,
in
a
place
which
I
have
since
ascertained
to
be
Smithfield
market
.
I
could
not
have
conceived
that
so
filthy
and
horrible
a
nuisance
could
have
been
allowed
to
exist
in
the
midst
of
a
city
of
so
much
wealth
.
But
,
oh
!
the
revolting
streets
which
branch
off
from
that
Smithfield
.
It
seemed
to
me
that
I
was
wandering
amongst
all
the
haunts
of
crime
and
appalling
penury
of
which
I
had
read
in
romances
,
but
which
I
never
could
have
believed
to
exist
in
the
very
heart
of
the
metropolis
of
the
world
.
Civilisation
appeared
to
me
to
have
chosen
particular
places
which
it
condescended
to
visit
,
and
to
have
passed
others
by
without
even
leaving
a
foot-print
to
denote
its
presence
.
"
"
But
this
horrible
adventure
?
"
said
Montague
.
"
Oh
!
forgive
my
digression
.
Surrounded
by
darkness
,
exposed
to
the
rage
of
the
storm
,
and
actually
sinking
with
fatigue
,
I
took
refuge
in
an
old
house
,
which
I
am
sure
I
could
never
find
again
;
but
which
was
situated
nearly
at
the
end
,
and
on
the
right-hand
side
of
the
way
,
of
one
of
those
vile
narrow
streets
branching
off
from
Smithfield
.
That
house
was
the
den
of
wild
beasts
in
human
shape
!
I
was
compelled
to
hear
a
conversation
of
a
most
appalling
nature
between
two
ruffians
,
who
made
that
place
the
depôt
for
their
plunder
.
They
planned
,
amongst
other
atrocious
topics
,
the
robbery
of
a
country-seat
,
somewhere
to
the
north
of
Islington
,
and
inhabited
by
a
family
of
the
name
of
Markham
.
"
"
Indeed
!
What
—
how
strange
!
"
ejaculated
Montague
:
then
immediately
afterwards
,
he
added
,
"
How
singular
that
you
should
have
overheard
so
vile
a
scheme
!
"
"
Oh
!
those
villains
,
"
continued
Walter
,
"
were
capable
of
crimes
of
a
far
deeper
dye
!
They
discussed
horror
upon
horror
,
till
I
thought
that
I
was
going
raving
mad
.
I
made
a
desperate
attempt
to
escape
,
and
was
perceived
.
What
then
immediately
followed
I
know
not
,
for
I
became
insensible
:
in
a
word
,
Mr.
Montague
,
I
fainted
!
"
A
deep
blush
suffused
her
countenance
,
as
she
made
this
avowal
—
for
it
seemed
to
have
a
direct
relation
to
her
sex
;
and
she
was
well
aware
that
the
secret
connected
therewith
had
been
revealed
by
her
benefactor
to
George
Montague
.
On
his
part
,
he
gazed
upon
her
with
mingled
interest
and
admiration
.
"
I
awoke
to
encounter
a
scene
of
horror
,
"
she
continued
,
after
a
short
pause
,
"
which
you
must
fancy
;
but
the
full
extent
of
which
I
cannot
depict
.
I
can
only
feel
it
even
now
.
Those
wretches
were
conveying
me
to
a
room
upon
the
ground-floor
—
a
room
to
which
the
cells
of
the
Bastille
or
the
Inquisition
could
have
produced
no
equal
.
It
had
a
trap-door
communicating
with
the
Fleet
Ditch
!
I
begged
for
mercy
—
I
promised
wealth
—
for
I
knew
that
my
kind
benefactor
,
"
she
added
,
glancing
towards
Mr.
Stephens
,
"
would
have
enabled
me
to
fulfil
my
pledge
to
them
;
but
all
was
in
vain
.
The
murderers
hurled
me
down
the
dark
and
pestiferous
hole
!
"
"
Merciful
heavens
!
"
ejaculated
Montague
.
"
It
would
appear
that
the
house
in
question
,
"
proceeded
Walter
,
"
stood
upon
the
side
of
,
and
not
over
the
Ditch
.
There
can
be
,
however
,
no
doubt
that
the
trap-door
was
contrived
for
the
horrible
purpose
of
disposing
of
those
victims
who
fell
into
the
merciless
hands
of
the
occupants
of
the
dwelling
;
for
when
I
had
fallen
some
distance
,
instead
of
being
immersed
in
black
and
filthy
mud
,
I
was
caught
upon
a
sloping
plank
which
shelved
towards
a
large
aperture
in
the
wall
of
the
Ditch
.
I
instinctively
clung
to
this
plank
,
and
lay
stretched
upon
it
for
some
moments
until
I
had
partially
recovered
my
presence
of
mind
.
The
circumstance
of
having
thus
escaped
a
dreadful
death
gave
me
an
amount
of
courage
at
which
I
myself
was
astonished
.
At
length
I
began
to
reason
whether
it
would
be
better
to
remain
there
until
morning
,
and
then
endeavour
to
reach
the
trap-door
above
my
head
,
or
to
devise
some
means
of
immediate
escape
.
I
decided
upon
the
latter
proceeding
;
for
I
reflected
that
the
morning
would
not
afford
light
to
that
subterranean
hole
to
enable
me
to
act
with
certainty
;
and
I
,
moreover
,
dreaded
the
extreme
vengeance
of
those
ruffians
who
had
already
given
me
a
sample
of
their
brutality
,
should
I
happen
to
encounter
them
on
emerging
from
the
trap-door
.
Lastly
,
I
considered
that
it
was
also
probable
that
I
might
not
succeed
in
raising
the
trap-door
at
all
.
"
"
What
a
fearful
situation
!
"
observed
Montague
.
"
Horrible
even
to
think
of
,
"
added
Stephens
,
who
listened
with
the
deepest
attention
to
this
narrative
,
although
he
had
heard
it
related
on
former
occasions
.
"
With
my
hands
and
legs
I
groped
about
,
"
continued
Walter
,
"
and
I
speedily
ascertained
my
exact
position
with
regard
to
the
locality
.
My
feet
were
close
to
a
large
square
aperture
in
the
perpendicular
wall
overhanging
the
Ditch
;
and
the
floor
of
the
cellar
was
only
a
couple
of
feet
below
the
aperture
.
I
accordingly
got
cautiously
off
the
board
,
and
stood
upon
the
damp
ground
.
After
the
lapse
of
several
minutes
,
during
which
I
nerved
myself
to
adopt
the
idea
that
had
struck
me
,
I
passed
my
head
through
the
aperture
,
and
looked
out
over
the
Ditch
.
The
stream
appeared
rapid
,
to
judge
by
its
gurgling
sound
;
and
the
stench
that
exhaled
from
it
was
pestiferous
in
the
extreme
.
Turning
my
head
to
the
left
I
saw
hundreds
of
lights
twinkling
in
the
small
narrow
windows
of
two
lines
of
houses
that
overhung
the
Ditch
.
The
storm
had
now
completely
passed
away
—
the
rain
had
ceased
—
and
the
night
was
clear
and
beautiful
.
In
a
few
minutes
I
was
perfectly
acquainted
with
the
entire
geography
of
the
place
.
The
means
of
escape
were
within
my
reach
.
About
three
feet
above
the
aperture
through
which
I
was
now
looking
,
a
plank
crossed
the
Ditch
;
and
on
the
opposite
side
—
for
the
Ditch
in
that
part
was
not
above
two
yards
wide
from
wall
to
wall
—
was
a
narrow
ledge
running
along
the
side
of
the
house
facing
the
one
in
which
I
was
,
and
evidently
communicating
with
some
lane
or
street
close
by
.
I
can
scarcely
tell
you
how
I
contrived
to
creep
through
the
aperture
and
reach
the
plank
overhead
.
Nevertheless
,
I
attempted
the
dangerous
feat
,
and
I
accomplished
it
.
I
crossed
the
plank
,
and
reached
the
ledge
of
which
I
have
spoken
:
it
terminated
in
the
very
street
where
stood
the
terrible
den
from
which
I
had
just
so
miraculously
escaped
.
Indeed
,
I
emerged
upon
that
street
only
at
a
distance
of
a
few
yards
from
the
door
of
that
detestable
place
.
To
hurry
away
in
a
contrary
direction
was
my
first
and
most
natural
impulse
;
but
I
had
not
proceeded
far
when
the
door
of
a
house
was
suddenly
thrown
violently
open
,
and
out
poured
a
crowd
of
men
and
women
,
among
whom
I
was
,
as
it
were
,
immediately
hemmed
in
.
"
"
What
!
another
adventure
?
"
exclaimed
Montague
.
"
One
calculated
to
inspire
feelings
of
deep
disgust
,
if
not
of
alarm
,
"
answered
Walter
.
"
It
appeared
that
two
women
had
been
quarreling
and
had
turned
out
to
fight
.
They
fell
upon
each
other
like
wild
cats
,
or
as
you
would
fancy
that
tigers
would
fight
.
A
clear
and
lovely
moon
lighted
this
revolting
scene
.
A
circle
was
formed
round
the
termagants
,
and
for
ten
minutes
did
they
lacerate
themselves
with
fists
and
nails
in
a
fearful
manner
.
Their
clothes
were
torn
into
ribands
—
their
countenances
were
horribly
disfigured
with
scratches
—
the
blood
poured
from
their
noses
—
and
their
hair
,
hanging
all
dishevelled
over
their
naked
shoulders
,
gave
them
a
wild
,
ferocious
,
and
savage
appearance
,
such
as
I
never
could
have
expected
to
encounter
in
the
metropolis
of
the
civilised
world
.
"
"
And
in
the
very
heart
of
the
City
,
"
added
Mr.
Montague
.
"
Suddenly
a
cry
of
'
The
Bluebottles
!
'
was
raised
,
and
the
crowd
,
belligerents
and
all
,
rushed
pell-mell
back
again
into
the
house
.
In
spite
of
all
my
endeavours
to
escape
I
was
hurried
in
with
that
hideous
mob
of
ferocious-looking
men
and
brazen-faced
women
.
In
a
few
moments
I
found
myself
in
a
large
room
,
in
which
there
were
at
least
thirty
wretched
beds
huddled
close
together
,
and
so
revoltingly
dirty
that
the
cold
pavement
or
a
hedge-side
would
have
seemed
a
more
preferable
couch
.
And
,
oh
!
how
can
I
describe
the
inmates
of
that
den
,
many
of
whom
were
crowding
round
a
fire
cooking
provender
,
which
filled
the
place
with
a
sickening
and
most
fetid
odour
.
There
were
young
girls
almost
naked
,
without
shoes
or
stockings
,
and
whose
sunken
checks
,
dimmed
eyes
,
and
miserable
attire
contrasted
strangely
with
their
boisterous
mirth
.
Some
of
these
unfortunate
creatures
,
nevertheless
,
retained
traces
of
original
beauty
prematurely
faded
.
The
men
were
hatless
and
shoeless
;
indeed
the
entire
assembly
consisted
of
males
and
females
evidently
of
the
most
wretched
description
.
Scarcely
had
I
time
to
cast
a
glance
around
me
when
I
was
questioned
as
to
how
I
came
there
?
what
I
wanted
?
and
whether
I
meant
to
stand
anything
?
'
I
will
tell
you
what
it
is
,
'
said
one
to
his
companions
,
'
he
is
a
swell
who
is
come
to
have
a
look
at
these
kind
of
cribs
,
and
he
must
pay
his
footing
.
'
I
immediately
comprehended
the
nature
of
the
impression
which
my
presence
had
created
,
and
presented
the
individual
who
had
spoken
with
a
couple
of
half-crowns
.
The
sight
of
the
money
produced
an
immense
feeling
in
my
favour
.
Heaven
only
knows
how
many
gallons
of
beer
were
fetched
from
a
neighbouring
public-house
;
and
when
the
inmates
of
that
lazar-house
—
for
I
can
scarcely
call
it
anything
else
—
had
all
partaken
of
the
liquor
,
I
was
overwhelmed
with
offers
of
service
.
One
declared
,
that
if
I
merely
came
to
see
the
neighbourhood
he
would
take
me
round
to
every
place
in
the
street
;
another
assured
me
,
that
if
I
had
committed
a
forgery
or
any
other
'
genteel
crime
,
'
he
would
either
help
me
to
lie
secure
until
the
matter
had
blown
over
,
or
to
escape
from
the
country
;
and
so
on
.
I
suffered
the
wretches
to
retain
the
impression
that
curiosity
had
alone
led
me
thither
;
and
as
soon
as
I
had
made
this
announcement
the
mistress
of
the
house
was
summoned
to
do
the
honours
of
the
establishment
.
A
blear-eyed
old
crone
made
her
appearance
,
and
insisted
upon
showing
me
over
the
house
.
'
These
rooms
,
'
said
she
,
meaning
the
two
upon
the
ground
floor
,
'
are
for
those
who
can
afford
to
pay
threepence
for
their
bed
and
who
have
supper
to
cook
.
'
We
then
ascended
to
the
first
floor
.
'
These
are
the
four-penny
beds
,
'
said
the
old
woman
,
pointing
with
pride
and
satisfaction
to
some
thirty
or
forty
couches
,
a
shade
cleaner
,
and
the
least
thing
further
off
from
each
other
than
those
down
stairs
.
The
rooms
on
the
first
floor
were
also
filled
with
lodgers
;
and
another
demand
was
made
upon
my
purse
.
On
the
third
floor
and
in
the
attics
were
the
most
horrible
scenes
of
wretchedness
which
I
had
yet
beheld
.
Those
dens
were
filled
with
straw
beds
,
separated
from
each
other
only
by
pieces
of
plank
about
eight
or
ten
inches
in
height
.
Men
,
women
,
and
children
were
all
crowded
together
—
sleeping
pell-mell
.
Oh
!
it
was
a
horrible
,
horrible
spectacle
.
To
be
brief
,
I
escaped
from
that
moral
plague-house
;
and
in
a
few
moments
was
traversing
Smithfield
once
more
.
Even
the
tainted
air
of
that
filthy
enclosure
was
refreshing
after
the
foul
atmosphere
from
which
I
had
just
emerged
.
"
Louisa
entered
the
room
at
this
moment
to
announce
that
luncheon
was
prepared
in
another
apartment
.
"
And
you
never
took
any
steps
to
root
out
that
nest
of
villains
in
the
Old
House
whence
you
escaped
alive
so
miraculously
?
"
said
Montague
sipping
a
glass
of
exquisite
wine
after
his
luncheon
.
"
I
wrote
two
anonymous
letters
the
very
next
morning
,
"
answered
Walter
:
"
one
to
Mr.
Markham
,
warning
him
of
the
contemplated
burglar
at
his
house
;
and
another
to
the
Lord
Mayor
of
London
.
It
did
not
altogether
suit
Mr.
Stephens
's
plans
—
—
"
"
No
—
not
to
make
a
fuss
about
an
affair
which
would
have
been
sure
to
bring
your
name
into
notoriety
,
"
added
this
gentleman
hastily
.
"
That
adventure
has
no
doubt
given
you
a
distaste
for
late
rambles
,
"
said
Montague
.
"
In
the
City
—
decidedly
so
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
I
seldom
go
into
London
,
early
or
late
—
I
have
so
few
inducements
—
so
few
acquaintances
!
By
the
way
,
a
few
evenings
ago
I
treated
myself
to
a
visit
to
the
Opera
,
and
there
accident
threw
me
into
conversation
with
a
gentleman
and
lady
who
sat
in
the
same
box
as
myself
.
The
result
was
an
invitation
to
the
abode
of
the
lady
—
a
Mrs.
Arlington
—
—
"
"
Mrs.
Arlington
,
"
ejaculated
Montague
,
a
light
flush
animating
his
countenance
.
"
The
same
.
She
is
the
friend
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
I
am
anxious
to
see
something
of
the
world
now
and
then
—
and
to
avail
myself
of
my
present
garb
for
that
purpose
.
I
accordingly
called
upon
Mrs.
Arlington
last
evening
,
and
learnt
'
a
lesson
of
life
.
'
I
saw
an
elegant
woman
,
a
baronet
,
a
fashionable
gentleman
,
and
a
very
interesting
young
man
,
associating
with
a
vulgar
wretch
of
the
name
,
I
believe
,
of
Talbot
,
whose
manners
would
have
disgraced
a
groom
.
I
must
,
however
,
observe
that
the
interesting
young
gentleman
to
whom
I
allude
did
not
seem
to
be
more
pleased
with
the
conversation
and
conduct
of
this
vulgarian
than
myself
.
One
coincidence
somewhat
extraordinary
occurred
—
that
same
interesting
young
man
was
no
other
than
Mr.
Richard
Markham
,
one
of
the
sons
of
—
—
"
"
Ah
!
indeed
—
how
singular
!
"
exclaimed
George
Montague
,
not
waiting
till
Walter
finished
his
sentence
;
"
very
singular
!
"
he
added
;
then
,
having
tossed
off
a
bumper
of
Madeira
,
he
walked
up
to
the
window
,
where
he
affected
to
inhale
with
delight
the
exquisite
fragrance
of
the
flowers
that
adorned
the
casement
.
CHAPTER
X
.
THE
FRAIL
ONE
'S
NARRATIVE
.
WE
must
now
return
to
Richard
Markham
.
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
the
Honourable
Arthur
Chichester
apparently
took
a
very
great
fancy
to
him
,
for
they
were
constantly
making
appointments
to
meet
him
in
town
,
and
hastening
to
his
own
house
to
ferret
him
out
when
he
did
not
appear
at
their
usual
places
of
rendezvous
.
He
dined
at
least
three
times
a
week
at
Mrs.
Arlington
's
,
and
,
to
confess
the
truth
,
his
morning
calls
were
repeated
at
intervals
which
gradually
grew
shorter
and
shorter
.
Richard
thus
frequently
passed
hours
together
alone
with
Diana
.
In
spite
of
himself
he
now
and
then
suffered
his
eyes
to
rest
tenderly
upon
her
countenance
;
and
by
degrees
her
glances
encountered
his
and
were
not
immediately
withdrawn
.
Those
glances
were
so
languishing
,
and
withal
so
melancholy
,
that
they
inspired
Richard
with
a
passion
amounting
almost
to
a
delirium
;
and
he
felt
at
times
as
if
he
could
have
caught
that
beauteous
creature
in
his
arms
and
clasped
her
rapturously
to
his
bosom
.
One
morning
,
as
he
took
leave
of
her
,
he
fancied
that
her
hand
gently
pressed
his
own
.
The
idea
filled
him
with
a
joy
till
then
unknown
,
and
which
he
could
not
describe
even
to
himself
.
On
the
following
morning
he
called
a
little
earlier
than
usual
.
Diana
was
in
a
delicious
déshabillé
,
which
set
off
her
voluptuous
person
to
its
very
greatest
advantage
.
Richard
was
more
tender
than
usual
—
the
Enchantress
more
enchanting
.
They
were
seated
upon
the
sofa
together
;
and
a
pause
in
their
conversation
ensued
.
Richard
heaved
a
deep
sigh
,
and
suddenly
exclaimed
,
"
I
am
always
thinking
of
the
period
when
I
must
bid
adieu
to
your
charming
society
.
"
"
Bid
adieu
!
"
cried
Diana
;
"
and
wherefore
?
"
"
It
must
happen
,
sooner
or
later
,
that
our
ways
in
the
world
will
be
different
.
"
"
Then
you
are
not
your
own
master
?
"
said
Diana
,
enquiringly
.
"
Certainly
I
am
.
But
all
friends
must
part
some
time
or
another
.
"
"
True
,
"
said
Diana
;
then
,
in
a
subdued
tone
,
she
added
,
"
There
are
certain
persons
who
are
attracted
towards
each
other
by
kindred
feelings
and
emotions
,
and
it
is
painful
—
very
painful
,
for
them
to
part
!
"
"
Heavens
,
Diana
!
"
ejaculated
Richard
;
"
you
feel
as
I
do
!
"
She
turned
her
face
towards
him
;
her
cheeks
were
suffused
in
blushes
,
and
her
eyes
were
filled
with
tears
.
But
through
those
tears
she
cast
upon
him
a
glance
which
ravished
his
inmost
soul
.
It
seemed
fraught
with
love
and
tenderness
,
and
inspired
him
with
emotions
which
he
had
never
known
before
.
The
words
"
You
feel
as
I
do
,
"
contained
the
ingenuous
and
unsophisticated
avowal
of
a
new
passion
on
the
part
of
a
mind
that
was
as
yet
as
unskilled
in
the
ways
of
this
world
as
the
unfledged
bird
in
the
nest
of
its
mother
is
ignorant
of
the
green
woods
.
But
those
tears
which
stood
in
the
lady
's
eyes
,
and
the
blushes
which
dyed
her
checks
,
and
the
glance
which
,
like
a
sunbeam
in
the
midst
of
an
April
shower
,
she
darted
upon
the
youth
at
her
side
,
inspired
him
with
courage
,
awakened
undefined
hopes
,
and
filled
him
with
an
ecstacy
of
joy
.
"
Why
do
you
weep
,
Diana
?
why
do
you
weep
?
"
"
You
love
me
,
Richard
,
"
she
replied
,
turning
her
melting
blue
eyes
fully
upon
him
,
and
retaining
them
for
some
moments
fixed
upon
his
countenance
:
"
you
love
me
;
and
I
feel
—
I
know
that
I
am
not
worthy
of
your
affection
!
"
Richard
started
as
if
he
were
suddenly
aroused
from
a
dream
—
as
if
he
had
abruptly
awoke
to
a
stern
truth
from
a
pleasing
vision
.
He
suffered
her
hand
,
which
he
had
taken
in
his
,
to
fall
from
his
grasp
;
and
for
some
moments
he
remained
buried
in
a
profound
reverie
.
"
Ah
!
I
knew
that
I
should
remind
you
of
your
duty
towards
yourself
,
"
said
Diana
,
bitterly
.
"
No
—
I
am
not
worthy
of
you
.
But
that
you
may
hereafter
give
me
credit
for
frankness
and
candour
,
—
that
you
may
be
actually
warned
by
myself
against
myself
,
—
that
you
may
learn
to
esteem
me
as
a
friend
,
if
you
will
,
I
shall
in
a
few
words
relate
to
you
the
incidents
that
made
me
what
I
am
!
"
"
Proceed
,
"
said
Richard
,
"
proceed
!
Believe
me
I
shall
listen
with
attention
,
—
with
the
greatest
attention
!
"
"
My
father
was
a
retired
tradesman
,
"
began
Mrs.
Arlington
;
"
and
as
I
was
his
only
child
and
he
enjoyed
a
competency
,
he
gave
me
the
best
education
that
money
could
procure
.
Probably
the
good
old
man
made
up
his
mind
that
I
should
one
day
espouse
a
nobleman
;
and
,
as
my
mother
had
died
when
I
was
very
young
,
there
was
no
one
near
me
to
correct
the
vanity
with
which
my
father
's
adulation
and
ambitious
pretensions
inspired
me
.
About
three
years
ago
I
met
at
the
theatre
—
whither
I
went
with
some
friends
—
a
young
gentleman
—
tall
,
handsome
,
and
fascinating
like
yourself
.
He
contrived
to
obtain
a
formal
introduction
to
my
father
,
and
was
invited
to
our
house
,
at
which
he
speedily
became
a
constant
visitor
.
He
had
a
happy
tact
in
suiting
his
humours
or
tastes
to
those
with
whom
he
came
in
contact
;
and
he
quite
won
my
father
's
heart
by
playing
chess
with
him
,
telling
him
the
news
of
the
City
,
and
reading
the
evening
paper
to
him
.
George
Montague
soon
became
an
established
favourite
;
and
my
father
could
do
nothing
without
him
.
At
length
Montague
proposed
to
him
certain
speculations
in
the
funds
:
my
father
was
allured
by
the
prospect
of
quadrupling
his
capital
,
and
consented
.
I
must
confess
that
the
young
man
's
handsome
person
had
produced
a
certain
effect
upon
me
—
a
giddy
young
girl
as
I
was
at
that
time
;
and
I
rather
encouraged
my
father
in
these
schemes
than
otherwise
.
At
first
the
speculations
were
eminently
successful
;
but
in
a
short
time
they
took
a
turn
.
Day
after
day
did
Montague
come
to
the
house
to
announce
fresh
losses
and
the
necessity
of
farther
advances
.
He
declared
that
he
should
now
speculate
for
a
grand
stake
,
which
could
not
fail
shortly
to
turn
to
his
advantage
.
A
species
of
infatuation
seized
upon
my
father
;
and
I
was
not
aware
of
the
ruinous
course
he
was
pursuing
until
it
was
too
late
.
At
length
my
father
was
totally
ruined
;
and
George
come
to
announce
to
us
the
failure
of
our
last
chance
.
My
father
now
repented
when
it
was
too
late
.
Eight
short
months
had
sufficed
to
dissipate
his
whole
fortune
;
he
had
not
even
enough
left
to
pay
the
few
debts
which
he
had
contracted
,
and
which
he
had
neglected
to
liquidate
,
trusting
each
day
to
the
arrival
of
the
lucky
moment
when
he
should
find
himself
the
master
of
millions
!
"
"
Oh
!
the
absurd
hope
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
deeply
interested
in
this
narrative
.
"
Alas
!
this
event
was
a
fatal
blow
to
my
father
's
health
,
at
the
same
time
that
it
wrecked
his
happiness
,
"
continued
Diana
.
"
He
implored
Montague
not
to
desert
'
his
darling
child
'
—
for
so
he
called
me
—
in
case
anything
should
happen
to
himself
;
and
that
same
day
—
the
day
on
which
he
saw
all
his
prospects
and
hopes
in
this
life
blasted
—
he
put
a
period
to
his
existence
by
means
of
poison
!
"
"
This
was
horrible
!
"
cried
Markham
.
"
Oh
!
that
villain
Montague
!
"
"
My
father
's
creditors
came
to
seize
the
few
effects
which
remained
,
"
said
Diana
,
after
a
pause
;
"
and
I
was
about
to
be
turned
houseless
and
unprotected
into
the
streets
,
when
Montague
arrived
.
He
took
gold
from
his
pocket
,
and
satisfied
the
demands
of
the
creditors
.
He
moreover
supplied
me
with
money
for
my
immediate
wants
.
I
was
totally
dependent
upon
him
;
—
I
had
no
relations
—
no
friends
to
whom
I
could
apply
for
succour
or
comfort
.
He
seemed
to
commiserate
my
position
—
—
"
"
Perhaps
,
"
observed
Richard
,
"
he
was
not
so
very
guilty
,
after
all
,
relative
to
the
loss
of
your
father
's
property
?
"
"
Judge
by
the
sequel
,
"
answered
Diana
bitterly
.
"
He
was
as
base
as
he
was
in
reality
unfeeling
.
The
transition
from
that
state
of
dependence
upon
a
young
man
to
a
more
degraded
one
still
,
was
to
be
expected
.
He
no
longer
talked
to
me
of
marriage
,
as
he
once
had
done
;
but
he
took
advantage
of
my
forlorn
situation
.
I
became
his
mistress
.
"
"
Ah
!
it
was
base
—
it
was
ungenerous
—
it
was
unmanly
!
"
ejaculated
Richard
.
"
He
seemed
to
be
possessed
of
ample
resources
;
but
he
accounted
for
this
circumstance
by
assuring
me
that
he
had
found
another
friend
who
was
backing
him
in
the
same
speculations
in
which
my
poor
father
had
failed
.
We
lived
together
for
four
months
;
and
he
then
coolly
informed
me
that
we
must
part
.
I
found
that
I
had
never
really
entertained
any
very
sincere
affection
for
him
;
and
the
little
love
which
I
experienced
at
first
,
had
been
quenched
in
my
bosom
by
his
cold
cruelty
.
He
seemed
unfeeling
to
a
degree
.
Observations
,
calculated
to
wound
most
acutely
,
fell
from
his
lips
upon
all
occasions
—
—
"
"
The
dastard
!
"
exclaimed
Richard
,
profoundly
touched
by
this
recital
.
"
If
I
wept
at
this
cruelty
,
he
treated
me
with
increased
brutality
.
You
may
,
therefore
,
suppose
that
I
was
not
deeply
distressed
to
part
with
him
.
He
gave
me
twenty
guineas
,
and
bade
me
a
chilling
farewell
.
From
that
moment
I
have
neither
seen
nor
heard
of
him
.
A
few
weeks
after
our
separation
my
money
was
exhausted
.
I
resolved
to
lead
a
virtuous
and
honourable
life
,
and
atone
for
my
first
fault
.
O
God
!
I
did
not
then
know
that
society
will
not
receive
the
penitent
frail
one
;
—
that
society
excludes
poor
deceived
woman
from
all
hopes
of
reparation
,
all
chances
of
repentance
!
I
endeavoured
to
obtain
a
situation
as
a
governess
;
—
I
might
as
well
have
attempted
to
make
myself
queen
of
England
.
Character
—
references
!
I
had
neither
.
Vainly
did
I
implore
one
lady
to
whom
I
applied
to
give
me
a
month
's
trial
.
She
insulted
me
grossly
.
To
another
I
candidly
confessed
my
entire
history
:
she
patiently
heard
me
to
the
end
,
and
then
ordered
her
lacquey
to
turn
me
out
of
the
house
.
Oh
!
society
does
more
than
punish
:
it
pursues
the
unfortunate
female
who
has
made
one
false
step
,
with
the
most
avenging
and
malignant
cruelty
;
—
it
hunts
her
to
suicide
or
to
new
ways
of
crime
.
These
are
the
dread
alternatives
.
At
that
moment
,
had
some
friendly
hand
been
stretched
out
to
aid
me
,
—
had
I
met
with
one
kind
heart
that
would
have
believed
in
the
possibility
of
repentance
,
—
had
I
only
been
blest
with
the
chance
of
entering
upon
a
career
of
virtue
,
I
should
have
been
saved
!
Yes
—
I
should
have
redeemed
my
first
fault
,
as
far
as
redemption
was
possible
;
—
and
to
accomplish
that
aim
,
I
would
have
worked
my
nails
down
to
the
very
quick
,
—
I
would
have
accepted
any
position
,
however
menial
,
—
I
would
have
made
any
sacrifice
,
enjoyed
any
lot
,
so
long
as
I
was
assured
of
earning
my
bread
in
a
manner
which
need
not
make
me
blush
.
But
society
treated
me
with
contempt
.
Why
,
in
this
Christian
country
,
do
they
preach
the
Christian
maxim
,
that
'
there
is
more
joy
over
one
sinner
who
repenteth
,
than
over
ninety-and-nine
just
persons
who
need
no
repentance
?
'
Why
is
this
maxim
preached
,
when
the
entire
conduct
of
society
expresses
in
terms
which
cannot
be
misunderstood
,
a
bold
denial
of
its
truth
?
"
"
Merciful
heavens
,
"
ejaculated
Richard
,
"
can
this
be
true
?
are
you
drawing
a
correct
picture
,
Diana
,
or
inventing
a
hideous
fiction
?
"
"
God
knows
how
true
is
all
I
say
!
"
returned
Mrs.
Arlington
,
with
profound
sincerity
of
tone
and
manner
.
"
Want
soon
stared
me
in
the
face
:
what
could
I
do
?
Chance
threw
me
in
the
way
of
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
:
—
compelled
by
an
imperious
necessity
,
I
became
his
mistress
.
This
is
my
history
.
"
"
And
the
baronet
treats
you
kindly
?
"
said
Richard
,
inquiringly
.
"
The
terms
upon
which
our
connexion
is
based
do
not
permit
him
an
opportunity
of
being
either
very
kind
or
very
cruel
.
"
"
I
must
now
say
farewell
for
the
present
,
"
exclaimed
Markham
,
afraid
of
trusting
himself
longer
with
the
Syren
who
had
fascinated
him
with
her
misfortunes
as
well
as
by
her
charms
.
"
In
a
day
or
two
I
will
see
