consummate it?—would he, after having run all the risk, endured all the suffering and annoyance-would he now shrink from reaping the advantages which were already, he believed, within his reach, because there yet remained a few brambles to push aside? The thought was dismissed as soon as formed.

He turned once more to Gertrude, and endeavoured to take her hand in order to soothe her; but the shriek with which she snatched it from him, and the look of terror with which she examined it, as if it had been in the fangs of a wild beast, convinced him that to persevere farther at present were to drive her to actual insanity. Even he was almost struck with pity when he perceived that the last blow he had given was so deadly, that the poor victim, all wretched as she was, no longer presumed to ask to be taken to her father: but whatever effects such pity might have produced in other circumstances, in the present case he reminded himself that self-preservation was his paramount duty. He

determined to make Gertrude his by any means in his power, and then trust to circumstances for reconciling her to her fate.

With this view he sought Edelstein; informed him frankly of Gertrude's repugnance to the match, and consulted with him what measures were the safest for him to pursue.

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"I must leave England with as little delay as possible," he said; "and in order to do so, should present myself for my passport instantly: but the lady should appear also; and, in good sooth, she is in no state to do so, nor is it quite safe for me. Come, Edelstein, you who have been here so long and ought to know their ways, can you give me no assistance ?"

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Why, I do happen, not by being here so long, but by the chance of a family, of which the children had long been my pupils, going to the Continent, to know the routine of these matters, as I assisted them in such preparations. It is not absolutely necessary for the lady to appear, in ordinary cases, to procure a passport; but,

perhaps the circumstance of a Frenchman carrying off an English wife might make them more particular. Lest it should be so, I'll tell you what you Imust do. Have you noticed our landlady's daughter who came in to prepare breakfast for us? Would she do at all to personate

your fair one?

You are aware the descriptions are always very liberal likenesses; in general, if the eyes, hair, and height do not absolutely contrast, it is enough."

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Why, in that case she might do; for I see she has dark hair and light eyes, like this poor girl. But then she must conceal her cherry-cheeks, and act the invalid to the very -death, I will say, instead of life; for I see Gertrude must be dosed again in order to be got on board."

"Indeed! Are matters so very bad? Think you not it is a desperate business, to say the least? Suppose she die on board ?"

"The least said is the best," answered De l'Espoir with some irritation. "I cannot now

draw back if I would. She is in no state to re

turn to her friends just now; and wait here for I dare not, even were I the chick

her recovery en-hearted fool you would make me ;-my own affairs all upset, my money-matters arranged for a long absence from Paris: do you think me mad, or are you doting yourself?"

"Neither, De l'Espoir. But the truth is this, that both for your sake and my own, I must insist upon your taking into consideration the chance of this girl dying of grief or terror, or both, when she wakes from her second dose and finds herself with you on the high seas. You will not call that success, and my reward will be forgotten."

"What the devil, then, is to be done ?" asked De l'Espoir, who knew that Edelstein had at least the right of might to give his opinion, for he had the power of betraying him; "what do advise?-or rather, in the name of common sense, what remains to be done ?”

you

A thought had entered the brain of Edelstein.

He was not naturally of a selfish character, but his difficulties had taught him to consider his own advantage before all things. Accordingly, his motives in the proposal he was now about to make were of a mixed nature. He truly felt for Gertrude's misery: even by De l'Espoir's own account he gathered that an affectionate young girl had been made the instrument of death to her brother, and was then to be carried abroad to a strange country, and forced to marry the man who had done this deed by her. The case was pitiable enough. Then if she died, he knew how little hold he should have upon De l'Espoir, whose promise indeed in that case would be null and void; as, except some vague intimations of present gratuity, always seconded by 'the scarcity of present supplies,' his specific reward was to be contingent upon De l'Espoir's receiving the girl's fortune: but then, it was to be splendid in consideration of the delay.

Edelstein had long lost sight of all his own family connexions; but when his sister's son