am not to be pinioned down, and booked as a blockhead for nothing; and he shall meet me face to face." "And I shall take my stand opposite to you," Belnovine coolly assured him; "therefore on this matter you and I divide." Lord Vahl paused. "I am not over-fond of retrospect or anticipation on any subject," rejoined Lord Belnovine; "for the present moment requires all one's thoughts; and it is idle to expose offences, unless there is a benefit to be gathered." "Humph!" ejaculated Lord Vahl, in deri sion. "But what can I tell my friend? How explain the circumstance rightly? I do not dread being the companion of my tame cat, and purring with her, when I am pitied and caressed, or sighing like a Strephon, with Baptiste in solitude; but really, when one enters society, one likes to feel one's position; and certainly I am, after all, a match for any girl in his Majesty's dominions." "Gently again, Hotspur !" said Belnovine. CHAPTER XII. But what will not ambition and revenge MILTON-Paradise Lost. MORGAN had been the scaring spectre in the Duke's chamber, when Lord Darmaya had perceived the gliding form cross the room, and heard the rustling noise. Lorevaine had persuaded Morgan to post himself there, as they had agreed on what questions were to be agitated, so that he might glean an interpretation from the answer given. They had moreover decided, that it would be advisable not to attempt too much at once, lest they might defeat the intent. They knew that when Lord Darmaya was suddenly surprised, he invariably compromised his discretion; Lorevaine, therefore, meant to strike upon some point abruptly, and carry all en coup de main. "And then we can work upon him," Morgan added; "but there is no trusting to his word when he is prepared. His ends are to be decyphered by his looks and gestures, but not at all by his speech; and his agents are, no doubt, always at hand, for he 's a very cunning man when he goes plodding on unmolested. We must keep by his weak side. -Would I had ever known him as I do know!" Darmaya's prevaricating responses were scarcely intelligible to Morgan's ear; but he felt more convinced than ever that the Earl had some guilty knowledge; and that there were cases saved, and to be found somewhere, possibly in the cavities underneath the arches in the cloisters. That the boy Issachar had been shipped off by himself, seemed probable, as he had lived with Lord Darmaya, as one of his grooms, up to the period of Morgan's last visit to England, when he had disappeared, no one knew how. Naturally very anxious for the result of the conference between the Duke and his old schoolfellow, Morgan sat in much impatience in the window recess, and could not resist laughing when he espied Lord Darmaya's figure, and, from the tremulous tone of his voice, inferred what terror he was labouring under both from the living and the dead. The disgusting mention of his father aroused his wrath; and a suspicion crossed his mind that his parent had been hastened into his grave by the rapid and ill-timed communication of the deplorable event of the fire. He was issuing forth from his ambush unguardedly, to declare his thoughts, when Lorevaine, by a sign, induced him to keep still; and when the Duke decidedly commanded Darmaya to desist from the topic of Morgan's affairs, and prepared him to listen to another matter of equal importance to themselves, then Morgan crept to the side opening with an innate delicacy, hoping, whatever the matter might portend, that Lorevaine would be the victor. He sat himself down in the passage, sufficiently in distance to avoid being a direct listener, yet near enough to return in aid, should he hear the Duke insulted. For some time Morgan was tranquil; but the elevated tones of Darmaya's exclamation induced him to move nearer and nearer; and his hand was on the lock of the door, when Lorevaine's gentle but deep voice marked that he did not require support. Morgan receded, but was glad when he heard Lord Darmaya pace heavily down the passage. Turning away behind a statue, as Darmaya passed him, Morgan just caught one glimpse of his countenance: he had never seen him so malignant. Morgan then rejoined the Duke, and sat in the vacated chair. Lorevaine was sorting and arranging all the papers regularly which poor Ruth had left him, taken by her out of her father's box; and persuading Morgan what line of conduct to adopt according to existing circumstances, proffering every assistance in his power. He was pronouncing his final adieu to his grateful friend, for it was then trespassing |