story would be sure to evoke. Was this
possible?--could he venture to embark upon such a sea of peril as
this?--could he dare to confront difficulties that would rise up against
him at every step and in every relation of life, to assail his political
reputation to-day--to slur his personal honor to-morrow--to cast shame
upon her whose fair fame was dearer to him than life itself twice
told--to be an inheritance of disgrace to his children, if he were to
have children? No, no I For such an exposure as this nothing short of
downright desperation could give courage.

Far from serving to allay his passion for vengeance, these difficulties
but deepened the channel of his wrath, and made the injury itself appear
more irreparable. Nor did he know whom to consult at such a crisis. To
unbosom himself to MacNaghten was like confessing that he could do, from
personal motives, what he had shrunk from in the full confidence of his
friendship; and such an avowal would, he was well aware, give heartfelt
pain to his best friend in the world. Many other names occurred to him,
but each was accompanied by some especial difficulty. It was a case
which demanded great discretion, and at the same time promptitude and
decision. To have allowed any interval for discussion would have been to
incur that publicity which my father dreaded beyond all.

The indignant energy of his mind had given a kind of power to his
emaciated and wasted frame; and as he paced his room in passionate
emotion, he felt as though all his wonted strength and vigor were
returning to "stand by him" in his hour of peril. He had opened his
window to admit the cool air of the night; and scarcely had he thrown
wide the sash when the cry of a newsvendor met his ear.

"Here's the 'List of the Castle hacks,' to be sold to the highest
bidder, the Government having no further use for them; with the pedigree
and performances set forth in full, and a correct account of the sums
paid for each of them."

To this succeeded a long catalogue of gentlemen's names, which were
received by the mob that followed the hawker, with shouts and cries of
derision. Groan followed groan as they were announced, and my father
listened with an agonizing suspense lest he should hear his own amidst
the number; but, to his inexpressible relief, the fellow concluded his
muster-roll without alluding to him. Just, however, as he was about to
close the window, the man again broke out with: "On Saturday next