scending a stair in the dark, has his feet suddenly met by the ground at the bottom, whilst he believes he has two or three steps more to descend. A certain degree of confusion came over her, and she stammered out something, rather incoherent, about her proposed plans. The marriage was to be quite private, she said. A servant had been already dispatched for a licence. The clergyman also had received notice. Nobody was to witness the ceremony, but Lady Deborah and the servants. It was then their intention to set off for London, where they meant to spend the honey-moon.

Here the head of Antonio again appeared for an instant, with the face relaxed into a horrible smile of triumph and exultation.

"But what is the matter with you, aunt?" exclaimed Miss Delassaux; "you look very ill." 66 I am, indeed, not well, Olivia,” replied her Ladyship, faintly; "I am, indeed, by no means well. My health has been declining for some time; but the prospect of seeing so speedy a termination put to the parental care I have so long had of you, were of itself a sufficient explanation of these emotions. Then I slept ill-ve

ry ill, last night, and the effects of the fatigue I underwent still remain."

"I believe I had better leave you, then, to enjoy a little rest. But say, can I do any thing for you?" said Miss Delassaux, in a much kinder tone than any she had addressed Lady Deborah in for many a long day; "you had better ring for your chocolate, and then go to bed to endeavour to procure a little sleep. I shall give orders to have the house kept quiet. You must really take more care of yourself." So saying, she left the apartment.

The sound of her feet had hardly died away in the gallery, when Antonio came forth from his concealment. Lady Deborah had sunk into the depth of an arm-chair, where she sat in mute mortification, with her eyes fixed upon the ground. -The Italian looked at her for some moments without speaking.

"Cospetto del Diavolo!" said he at length, with a malicious grin, "you seemed to waver, methought? But now things are in the right train, and I may soon hope to call you my connection

ha ha ha! But I'll to the larder,per Dio sono affamato !"—

The haughty but humbled Lady Deborah, was stung to death by the impudent and insulting tone of triumph assumed by the villain in whose power she felt herself. Even his absence was in some degree, a relief to her, though it only gave her leisure for greater self-torment. Her thoughts, by a very natural chain of association, reverted to those circumstances which had thus placed her life, and her fame, at his mercy; and conscience again began its work of torture. Rest was now for ever divorced from her pillow. Nay, she even dreaded to go to bed, where she knew that a repetition of the torments she had lately so often endured, most certainly awaited her.

"Yes," said she to herself after a long pause, as she started up and began to pace the room, "I must rid myself of him.-One crime more!— nay-not a crime-'tis but becoming the willing instrument of Heaven's vengeance against him,— against one whose life must soon be forfeited, if he should be detected in these his recent crimes. Yet for whom has he sinned ?"-She shuddered at the thought. "But no matter to this I must wind up my resolution. The secrets he

holds are too important,-and were he to become the prey of the law, his poisonous breath would blast my reputation for ever. He must not be allowed to fall into the hands of justice; my safety, and what is to me more than all, the safety of my high name demands that he shall be removed from its grasp. By what a labyrinth am I surrounded? and how ill have I been requited by her for whom I have thus plunged into the abyss ?-Yet," continued she after a pause, during which better feelings seemed to have arisen,-" yet she was kind but just now, and how lovely she looks when she is kind! Her kindness comes, indeed, but seldom ; but when it does come, it rekindles all my foolish fondness. Were conscience silent, I might have been contented and happy with her kindness alone, could I have had it. But to be trampled upon by her for whom I have sacrificed myself!-Oh my proud heart cannot stand it!

UNTIL the arrival of the day that was to unite him to Miss Delassaux, the Count di Montemarone never left his fair bride. The young

Lady employed herself in giving orders for the speedy preparation of splendid dresses; and the handsomest equipage she possessed was directed to be in readiness, it being the intention of the young couple to set off on a pleasure tour immediately after the ceremony, and to terminate it in London.

Very imperative orders were issued to Mr Haw.