"leaves Naples!" and tearing open the letter, his eye ran hastily over the lines. He clasped his hands together, and fell back upon the sofa. For a few minutes he remained silent, as if confounded by the sudden transition from despair to hope. -"Good God! can it be true?" he exclaimed at length, starting up, and holding the paper to the lamp while he again read it over, to convince himself that it was a fact." Generous-generous man!” he added; "he well deserves the treasure he resigns."

When colonel P had somewhat recovered from his first surprise, Charles found he was firmly bent upon refusing the pecuniary aid sir Philip offered." I thought," said he, "that it was a challenge, not a benefit; but I cannot accept this, sir. You must convey my most grateful thanks to your friend, and tell him, that though I cannot receive what he offers, I feel the obligation as every

man

man of honour and feeling must feel it, if placed in my situation.

Charles used all his eloquence to prevail on colonel P-to sacrifice his pride to his circumstances; but all he could gain was, that the ten thousand pounds should be accepted as a loan, and that only upon Mr. Melville urging that it offered the sole chance of his obtaining signora Mori. That idea was not to be resisted, and the young officer yielded." I believe,” said he, "that you have saved me from destruction. What were my intentions, I hardly know-perhaps I had none; but my whole mind was in such a state of agitation, that I know not what I might ` have been tempted to do. That letter," he continued, pointing to the one which lay on the table, "is from Biancha; she tells me that she has written to sir Philip Mason, leaving our fate to his honour and generosity, on which she relied much. But I did not know him; and I could scarcely conceive that any man, who had

it in his power to possess her, would relinquish her on any account whatever."

These were feelings which Charles could well enter into, and having charged himself with a note from the now happy Italian to sir Philip, expressive of all the gratitude and delight he felt, Mr. Melville bade him adieu, and returned home, with many very mingled feelings from the events of the day.

It was now too late to think of calling on the baronet again, and in consequence, Charles gave the note he had received to the servant, who had continued waiting, and desired him to tell his master that he would be with him early in the morning, till which time he delayed making those inquiries which he hoped would explain, not only the extraordinary attack upon Mary at Ilfracombe, but the whole train of persecutions that had succeeded it. He, however, resolved to follow the plan he had originally proposed, of concealing from lord Burton that this man was in his

1

power,

power, till he had ascertained all the circumstances, which might make it right or wrong to communicate it to him.

In the mean time, he had sufficient news to occupy the party at home till they separated for the night. In the small space of five hours that evening, he had seen enough to have furnished forth incident for many a busy week; and he could not help remarking, in what an extraordinary manner events of the utmost import will sometimes crowd into one day, while others are completely barren of cir

cumstance.