friend, and I am only the instrument
of justice in the hand of Heaven; endeavour to make atonement while
life is spared to you. Shall I send the priest to you? perhaps he
may convince you of the necessity of restitution, in order to obtain
forgiveness of your sins."

Sir Philip sent for the priest and the surgeon, and obliged the servant
to retire with him. "I leave you, sir, to the care of these gentlemen;
and whenever a third person is admitted, I will be his attendant; I will
visit you again within an hour."

He then retired, and consulted his friends below; they were of opinion
that no time should be lost. "You will then," said he, "accompany me
into the sick man's apartment in an hour's time."

Within the hour, Sir Philip, attended by Lord Clifford and Lord Graham,
entered the chamber. Lord Lovel was in great emotion; the priest stood
on one side of the bed, the surgeon on the other; the former exhorted
him to confess his sins, the other desired he might be left to his
repose. Lord Lovel seemed in great anguish of mind; he trembled, and was
in the utmost confusion. Sir Philip intreated him, with the piety of
a confessor, to consider his soul's health before that of his body. He
then asked Sir Philip, by what means he knew that he was concerned in
the death of his kinsman?

"Sir," replied he, "it was not merely by human means this fact was
discovered. There is a certain apartment in the Castle of Lovel, that
has been shut up these one and twenty years, but has lately been opened
and examined into."

"O Heaven!" exclaimed he, "then Geoffry must have betrayed me!"

"No, sir, he has not; it was revealed in a very extraordinary manner to
that youth whom it most concerns."

"How can he be the heir of Lovel?"

"By being the son of that unfortunate woman, whom you cruelly obliged to
leave her own house, to avoid being compelled to wed the murderer of her
husband: we are not ignorant, moreover, of the fictitious funeral you
made for her. All is discovered, and you will not tell us any more than
we know already; but we desire to have it confirmed by your confession."

"The judgments of Heaven are fallen upon me!" said Lord Lovel. "I am
childless, and one is arisen from the grave to claim my inheritance."

"Nothing, then, hinders you to do justice and make restitution; it is
for the ease of your conscience; and you have no other way of making
atonement for all the mischief you have done."

"You know too much,"