count, who assured him that Biancha's af

fection was entirely his.

"Ask her herself, Mason," said Charles. "Who would take a wife upon another man's word?"

"I intend to ask her, of course," replied the young baronet; "and further, I intend to ask her to-night, if the count gets out of the way, which you may manage for me if you can."

It was a beautiful evening, and nothing could be imagined more lovely than the country, which, tinted in all the brightest hues of nature, declined gradually to the sea, whose wide waters extended far beneath the eye, scarcely ruffled by a breeze; and enlivened by the light and frequent sails that skimmed gently along its bosom. Sir Philip Mason was sometimes talkative and sometimes absent; and the varying emotions of his mind would incline him to linger, with a hesitation he could not overcome. Those moments of doubt are the most painful of a man's life; Charles

knew

knew it from experience, and rather hurried his friend on, thinking that whatever was the event, the sooner it was over the better.

On arriving at the villa, they found an addition to the usual party in a young and remarkably handsome man, with a soldierlike air, and riband at his buttonhole, and on being introduced as colonel P―, he merely rose, bowed, and resumed his seat, continuing his conversation with the young lady, whose tell-tale eyes did not keep well the secret of her heart.

Sir Philip looked uneasy, and count Mori, after having for some time regarded his daughter and her lover (for such he evidently was) with a glance that would have done honour to a fiend, at length took advantage of a momentary pause, to that he wished to speak with the young say officer for a few minutes.

Colonel P

immediately rose, and

followed him out of the room; and the

countess

countess not being there, Charles found himself in rather an awkward situation, knowing, as he did, the intentions of his friend: he however made an excuse to walk forward into a little colonnade before the house, which was divided from the garden by a slight trellis-work, covered with a variety of shrubs and plants; and here he contrived to amuse himself with the flowers which were arranged between the pillars, remaining out of hearing of whatever passed in the saloon. He had not, however, remained here long, when he beheld count Mori and colonel P— at a short distance in the grounds; the latter, by his quick gesticulation and ve hement speech, seemed much heated, while the count appeared to regard him with a cool, pitying smile. At length the young officer paused, and folding his arms on his breast, remained for a moment with his eyes fixed on the ground, and then starting, he struck his clenched hand violently against his forehead, and darted

into the road which led from the villa, while the count turned upon his heel, and reentered the house.

Almost immediately after, Charles was joined by sir Philip Mason, who did not appear near so much disturbed as his friend had expected. He proposed to return to Naples; and Charles assenting, they passed through the saloon, in which was count Mori alone, who, with his usual attention, conducted them to the door, and mounting their horses, they proceeded on their route.

With the frankness natural to his character, sir Philip scarcely had passed the villa, before he informed Mr. Melville, that signora Mori had cut short the communication he intended to have made, by telling him that she had written to him, from which the young baronet drew a favourable presage. Charles was not concerned, and he judged more correctly.

About a mile from the city the road divides; the right hand branch, which is

the

the open road, was Charles's nearest way -the left was shorter for sir Philip Mason. It had hitherto so happened, that in their rides they had always gone by the left hand road, and Charles two or three times, when he had returned to the city by himself, had also gone that way, though it was somewhat longer; but now he thought that Mary must have long done the letter she was writing, and he was anxious to get home; and the baronet being equally desirous of seeing what was the purport of signora Mori's communication, they parted at the divarication of the roads, just as it was beginning to grow dark.

Charles had scarcely proceeded twenty yards, when he heard a noise, seemingly on the road he had just quitted, and riding back, he perceived his friend dismounted, and contending with a man, who endeavoured to point a pistol at his breast. Before Charles could come up to his assistance, the baronet, by an exertion of his great

VOL. II.

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