CHAP. III.

BODI

Now o'er the one half world

Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse

The curtain'd sleep.

MACRETH.

THE Baron sunk into his chair, in a state of greater wretchedness of mind. than he had ever yet experienced: to solve the mystery which had just been presented to him, he found himself inadequate; but he plainly perceived that he had been the dupe of a plot deeply planned to win his consent to an union which his own soul now abhorred, not less than did his unhappy Rosalind.

Who could this Allanrod be, whose prisoner he was?and how were Lord Rufus and he connected, as this demand seemed to bespeak them? were questions. which he proposed to his own mind many different times during the night, and which he was obliged as often to dismiss from it again unanswered.

He

The transactions of the few last days. appeared to him a dream: he could scarcely believe himself now awake. felt suspicious of the truth of every occurrence of recent date which his memory registered as facts; and knew himself certain only of one thing, and this was, that, be his own fate what it might, his consent should never be extorted to that man becoming the husband of his daughter, who would have been a sufficient monster to have led her to a second marriage bed, while yet her lawful husband lived.

In the morning, the leader returned as

he

he had foretold he should do.—“ Well,” he said, "are you determined ?”

"Yes, I am," replied Lord William,

never to agree to your terms of liberty."

The leader placed on the table some paper, some ink, and a pen. "When you change your mind," he said, "as there is no doubt but you soon will, write your consent on that paper, sign it, and order it to be given to the leader Monrose, who is myself; till then you will see no more of me, rest assured."

The Baron was beginning again to propose to him one of the questions relative to the connexion of Allanrod and Lord Rufus, which he had urged in vain the evening before; but Monrose interrupted him, by saying-"Not a syllable from me till you have given your consent ;" and with a malignant smile he left the place.

Two days passed unmarked by any event, but increasing misery to the Ba

ron;

ron; on the next he determined to tamper with the men who attended him, and to endeavour to open their feelings to his -situation by the master-key of gold, which fits the wards of almost every heart. The first on whom he resolved to make the attempt, was the fellow whose observations on the gibbet they had passed, in their march, had so much shocked him; and his reason for selecting him was, that he thought he did not appear to possess sufficient sense of feeling to bind him honest, even to his comrades in dishonesty. He it was who usually brought him his morning repast, and on this day he came to his wish.

"How long have you been a freebooter?" said the Baron to him, as an opening to the conversation.

"Long enough," replied the man, "to be much richer than I am."

Perhaps your honesty has kept you poor," rejoined the Baron; "and though

you

you are not above a robbery, you may, perhaps, scorn a bribe."

"I was never tried," answered the fellow, with an arch smile.

"I have three pieces of gold at your service," returned the Baron, "in return for some information I want to gain of you."

Respecting what ?" asked the man. Respecting your leader, Allanrod," replied the Baron. "I want to learn how he stands connected with Lord Rufus de Madginecourt. Do you know any thing of their concerns?"

"A little, I believe," returned the fellow, with another intelligent smile.

Then what say you to the three pieces?" rejoined the Baron.

"I say that if they were nine," returned the Moss-trooper," and in my hand, my communication should be at your service."

Nine pieces were all the Baron had about him, but he considered them worth bartering