terest
save the probability of Riccabocca's ultimate admission to the Imperial
grace, and the count's desire to assure himself of the heritage to an
estate that he might be permitted to retain no more? Riccabocca was
not indeed aware of the condition (not according to usual customs in
Austria) on which the count held the forfeited domains. He knew not that
they had been granted merely on pleasure; but he was too well aware of
Peschiera's nature to suppose that he would woo a bride without a
dower, or be moved by remorse in any overture of reconciliation. He
felt assured too--and this increased all his fears--that Peschiera would
never venture to seek an interview with himself; all the count's designs
on Violante would be dark, secret, and clandestine. He was perplexed and
tormented by the doubt whether or not to express openly to Violante his
apprehensions of the nature of the danger to be apprehended. He had
told her vaguely that it was for her sake that he desired secrecy and
concealment. But that might mean anything: what danger to himself would
not menace her? Yet to say more was so contrary to a man of his Italian
notions and Machiavellian maxims! To say to a young girl, "There is a
man come over to England on purpose to woo and win you. For Heaven's
sake take care of him; he is diabolically handsome; he never fails
where he sets his heart.--Cospetto!" cried the doctor, aloud, as these
admonitions shaped themselves to speech in the camera obscura of his
brain; "such a warning would have undone a Cornelia while she was yet
an innocent spinster." No, he resolved to say nothing to Violante of the
count's intention, only to keep guard, and make himself and Jackeymo all
eyes and all ears.

The house Randal had selected pleased Riccabocca at first glance. It
stood alone, upon a little eminence; its upper windows commanded the
high road. It had been a school, and was surrounded by high walls, which
contained a garden and lawn sufficiently large for exercise. The garden
doors were thick, fortified by strong bolts, and had a little wicket
lattice, shut and opened at pleasure, from which Jackeymo could inspect
all visitors before he permitted them to enter.

An old female servant from the neighbourhood was cautiously hired;
Riccabocca renounced his Italian name, and abjured his origin. He spoke
English sufficiently well to think he could pass as an Englishman. He
called himself Mr. Richmouth (a liberal translation of Riccab