him come to settle the estate of the sick man in favour of his children.
Lord Clifford also employed his son to soften Sir Robert, and to explain
to him every doubtful part of Sir Philip's behaviour.

After the travellers had taken some rest, the Lord Graham proposed that
they should make a visit to the sick man's chamber. The lords sent
to acquaint him they were coming to visit him, and they followed the
messenger. The Lord Fitz-Owen went up to the bedside; he embraced his
brother with strong emotions of concern. Sir Robert followed him; then
Mr. William.

Lord Lovel embraced them, but said nothing; his countenance shewed his
inward agitations. "Lord Fitz-Owen first broke silence.

"I hope," said he, "I see my brother better than I expected?"

Lord Lovel bit his fingers, he pulled the bed-clothes, he seemed almost
distracted; at length he broke out--

"I owe no thanks to those who sent for my relations! Sir Philip Harclay,
you have used ungenerously the advantage you have gained over me! you
spared my life, only to take away my reputation. You have exposed me to
strangers, and, what is worse, to my dearest friends; when I lay in
a state of danger, you obliged me to say any thing, and now you take
advantage of it, to ruin me in my friends' affection. But, if I recover,
you may repent it!"

Sir Philip then came forward.

"My Lords, I shall take no notice of what this unhappy man has just now
said; I shall appeal to you, as to the honourable witnesses of all that
has passed; you see it was no more than necessary. I appeal to you for
the motives of my treatment of him, before, at, and after our meeting.
I did not take his life, as I might have done; I wished him to repent of
his sins, and to make restitution of what he unjustly possesses. I was
called out to do an act of justice; I had taken the heir of Lovel under
my protection, my chief view was to see justice done to him;--what
regarded this man was but a secondary motive. This was my end, and I
will never, never lose sight of it."

Lord Lovel seemed almost choaked with passion, to see every one giving
some mark of approbation and respect to Sir Philip. He called out--

"I demand to know who is this pretended heir, whom he brings out to
claim my title and fortune?"

"My noble auditors," said Sir Philip, "I shall appeal to your
judgment, in regard to the proofs of my ward's birth and family; every
circumstance shall be laid before you, and you shall decide up