It was a short-lived joy, however, for on flying to him, and attempting to take his hand, he drew back, with a cold and repelling air; and after surveying me for an instant, with a haughty and indignant look, turned away in contemptuous silence. Astonishment at this conduct rivetted me for a few seconds to the floor; to let it pass, however, without enquiring into the cause of it, was not to be thought of; as soon, therefore, as I recollected myself, I again approached him, and having obtained his notice by gently pressing his arm, for he kept his looks studiously averted from mine, I begged in a low tone, to know to what I was to attribute the extraordinary reception I had met with from him? At this question he turned upon me a look full of fierceness, and bade me ask my own heart.

It cannot enlighten me on the subject,' I replied, ⚫ since it has ever been faithful to the frindship I vowed for you.'

Tis false,' he exclaimed with encreasing fury; 'had it been so, the honour of my house would never have been injured, by the seduction of my sister from her family.'

I started; in this accusation I clearly recognised the infernal machinations of Salvilina.

'By Heaven,' I passionately returned, I have been unjustly accused: but this is no place for an explanation ; let us retire, and I trust I shall soon be able to convince you that I have been so,'

"Take this,' he cried, in a voice of thunder, for so impudently avowing to me your belief of being able to impose upon me ; and as he spoke, he struck me across the face with the back of his hand.

When I tell you that at this very moment my blood boils with indignation at the recollection of this injurious treatment, you may easily picture to yourself, my dear friend, my feelings at the instant of receiving it. I directly drew. I no longer thought of his being the brother of Elizara....I thought only of revenge. But even though my feelings had been less outraged than they were, still I could not have acted otherwise than I did, without having had my name branded with infamy,

seeing we were surrounded by a crowd of the most distinguished men in Naples.

The Duke followed my example; a kind of desperate fury nerved my arm, and at the first pass he fell lifeless at my feet. With his last sigh vanished my last lingering hope of happiness; for that Elizara, be her situation what it might, would ever consent to a union with the destroyer of her brother, I could not flatter myself. Horrible reflections overwhelmed me, and rendered me unable to think of, much less make, an effort for my safety.

• The friends, however, who had accompanied me to the billiard-room, were not uninterested about it; they hurried me away, and caused Antonio to set out with me directly for Rodez, in France, where I had some relatives residing. After being there a few days, I awoke, as from a lethargy, and recollecting, the very morning of the day on which the fatal rencontre took place, my having heard that Salvilina had been recently seen at Ovideo, in Spain, I determined on proceeding thither immediately, for the purpose of endeavouring to ascertain he fate of Elizara; but no longer from any selfish motive, being thoroughly convinced, as I have already said, that nothing could induce her to become the wife of him, by whose hand her brother fell, even though she might be inclined to allow the provocation he had received sufficient to excuse the conduct it led to,

'Distracted as my mind was, however, I did not entirely forget the dear friends at Acerenza. Prior to my setting out for Spain, I dispatched a long explanatory letter to them.

I commenced my journey over the Pyrennees with no other attendant than Antonio, conceiving my having more might prevent my travelling with the expedition I wished. We reached the borders of Spain in safety, and night approaching, were pushing forward with all our might for a hamlet, where we purposed sleeping, when we were suddenly attacked by a small party of brigands. We were both armed, and fired. The mule on which I rode, terrified by the report of the fire-arms, broke from the ruffian who had seized her bridle, and set off with a

speed that was truly alarming, considering the dangers of the road. From being dashed to pieces, I was in all probability only saved by the intervention of some soldiers. advancing in the direction my unruly beast had taken. They soon succeeded in securing her, and being briefly informed of what had happened, accompanied me to the spot where I had left my poor Antonio, whom the banditti having first rifled, had left for dead upon the ground. My horror, while I imagined him so, was inexpressible, as, exclusive of the regard I felt for him on account of his long and faithful services, I considered myself the cause of his death, by having had the temerity to undertake so dangerous a journey, without the usual attendants. Thank Heaven I was rescued from the pangs which the idea of being so would have entailed upon me.

The soldiers conveyed him to the nearest village, where, owing to the prompt and skilful assistance he received, he speedily recovered.

As soon as he was again able to bear the fatigue of travelling, I recommenced my journey; but vain were all the enquiries I set afloat after Elizara and Salvilina on reaching Oviedo : I could learn no tidings of either; trusting, however, that by continuing some time in it, I might, at length, be fortunate enough to do so, I resolved on a longer stay there than I at first intended, a resolution which a letter from my aunt, the Marchesa Morati, acquainted me with the death of my uncle, and entreating me to return immediately to Acerenza, as from my presence she could only derive consolation for his loss, induced me to give up. Accordingly I hastened from Oviedo to Santillana, where I was informed I should be more likely, than in any other place on the coast, to procure a speedy passage for Italy; this, however, on arriving there, I found I could not do for a few days. I tried to while away the interval, and beguile my mind of the melancholy reflections that oppressed it, by rambling about the country.

The result of these rambles you are acquainted with; permit me, however, to observe, that had the accident they occasioned me to meet with been attended with infinitely more serious consequences than it was, I shouldi

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nevertheless have rejoiced at it, since the means of introducing me to your acquaintance....to you, to whose arguments I shall ever consider myself indebted, for not having acted in a manner derogatory to my character, as but for you, I should assuredly, after passing a little time with my aunt, have thrown myself into a religious solitude, owing to my despair about Elizara, a measure, I now clearly perceive, that could not have failed of drawing upon me the imputation of weakness. Yet, oh my dear friend, can you wonder that I should be sick of life? robbed as I have been of all that gave it value in my eyes, surely no one can deny that I am the most unfortunate of men? Yes as one of your elegant poets says..........

• Time gives increase to my afflictions:
The circling hours, that gather all the woes,
Which are diffus'd thro' the revolving year,
Come heavy laden with the oppressing weight
To me.... With me successively they leave

The sighs, the tears, the groans, and restless, cares,
And all the damps of grief that did retard their flight;
They shake their downy wings, and scatter all
Their dire collected dews on my poor head,
Then fly with joy and swiftness from me.'

Tell me, my dear friend,' he continued, looking anxiously at Osmond, do you not think I have a right to exclaim against fortune? Do you not think I have met with more than common calamities, that I am one of the most singularly unfortunate of my species?'

'Since you press for my opinion, I trust my dear Count,' replied Osmond, you will excuse me for saying that I see nothing in what you have met with, that differs from the ordinary lot of man, since we are all liable to trials, to misfortunes of various kinds....all doomed, at some period or other, in a greater or less degree, to experience the uncertainty of worldly pursuits, doubtless to prevent our attachment to this transitory state being too great. Complaints may aggravate, but most certainly can never alleviate our afflictions....afflictions which are as often, if not oftener brought on by our own misconduct than by circumstances we could prevent: in either case,

however, they should be borne with patience, from the conviction that they could not have befallen us without the permission of the Most High, and the consideration that the attainment of our wishes might not by any means have been instrumental to the furtherance of our happiness. Yet think not, my dear Count, from what I have said,. that I do not sincerely feel for your sufferings. They have been great, though not singular....such as entitle you to, and must ensure to you, the sympathy of every feeling heart in time, I trust the painful impression they have made upon your mind, will lessen sufficiently to allow of your enjoying the happiness still within your reach. Your own exertions will do much towards overcoming it: and to these I think you must feel yourself stimulated, by the expectations you must be conscious your friends have formed with respect to you, from the understanding you possess, and the regard you have ever professed for them. Perseverance in a hopeless passion nothing can excuse.' Except,' eagerly interposed the Count, the impos

sibility of conquering it.'

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Pardon me,' rejoined Osmond, I can admit of no such impossibility. You are fond of quotations from the English poets; hear what one of them says on the subject:

Rouse to the combat.

And thou art sure to conquer; wars shall restore thee....
The sound of arms shall wake thy martial ardour,

And cure this am'rous sickness of thy soul,

Begun by sloth, and nurs'd by too much ease,
The idle God of Love supinely dreams
Amidst inglorious shades of purling streams,
In rosy fetters and fantastic chains
He binds eluded maids and simple swains;
With soft enjoyments woos them to forget
The hardy toils and labours of the great:
But if the warlike trumpet's loud alarms
To virtuous acts excite, and manly arms,
The coward boy avows his abject fear,
On silken wings sublime he cuts the air,

Scar'd at the noble noise, and thunder of the war.'

By Heaven,' exclaimed the Count, starting from his chair with wildness in his eyes,' I would not if I could be cured of mine; and well it is for me that I do not