tablish a position beyond his years."

THE BARON. "It strikes me that we might possibly get him into the next
parliament; or, as that is not likely to last long, at all events, into
the parliament to follow,--not for one of the boroughs which will be
swept away, but for a permanent seat, and without expense."

EGERTON.--"Ay,--and how?"

THE BARON.--"Give me a few days to consider. An idea has occurred to me.
I will call again if I find it practicable. Good-day to you, Egerton,
and success to your election for Lansmere."

CHAPTER VII.

Peschiera had not been so inactive as he had appeared to Harley and
the reader. On the contrary, he had prepared the way for his ultimate
design, with all the craft and the unscrupulous resolution which
belonged to his nature. His object was to compel Riccabocca into
assenting to the count's marriage with Violante, or, failing that, to
ruin all chance of his kinsman's restoration. Quietly and secretly
he had sought out, amongst the most needy and unprincipled of his
own countrymen, those whom he could suborn to depose to Riccabocca's
participation in plots and conspiracies against the Austrian dominion.
These his former connection with the Carbonari enabled him to track to
their refuge in London; and his knowledge of the characters he had to
deal with fitted him well for the villanous task he undertook. He had,
therefore, already selected out of these desperadoes a sufficient number
either to serve as witnesses against his kinsman, or to aid him in any
more audacious scheme which circumstance might suggest to his adoption.
Meanwhile, he had (as Harley had suspected he would) set spies upon
Randal's movements; and the day before that young traitor confided to
him Violante's retreat, he had at least got scent of her father's.

The discovery that Violante was under a roof so honoured, and seemingly
so safe, as Lord Lansmere's, did not discourage this bold and desperate
adventurer. We have seen him set forth to reconnoitre the house at
Knightsbridge. He had examined it well, and discovered the quarter which
he judged favourable to a coup-de-main, should that become necessary.

Lord Lansmere's house and grounds were surrounded by a wall, the
entrance being to the high-road, and by a porter's lodge. At the rear
there lay fields crossed by a lane or byroad. To these fields a small
door in the wall, which was used by the gardeners in passing to and from
their work, gave communication.