or the moment
upon human judgment,--a dignity so supported by the singular advantages
of his superb stature, his handsome countenance, his patrician
air,--that the duke, moved by his good heart, extended his hand to the
perfidious kinsman, and forgot all the Machiavellian wisdom which should
have told him how little a man of the count's hardened profligacy
was likely to be influenced by any purer motives, whether to frank
confession or to manly repentance. The count took the hand thus extended
to him, and bowed his face, perhaps to conceal the smile which would
have betrayed his secret soul. Randal still remained mute, and pale
as death. His tongue clove to his mouth. He felt that all present were
shrinking from his side. At last, with a violent effort, he faltered
out, in broken sentences,

"A charge so sudden may well--may well confound me. But--but--who can
credit it? Both the law and commonsense pre-suppose some motive for a
criminal action; what could be my motive here? I--myself the suitor for
the hand of the duke's daughter--I betray her! Absurd--absurd! Duke,
Duke, I put it to your own knowledge of mankind whoever goes thus
against his own interest--and--and his own heart?"

This appeal, however feebly made, was not without effect on the
philosopher. "That is true," said the duke, dropping his kinsman's hand;
"I see no motive."

"Perhaps," said Harley, "Baron Levy may here enlighten us. Do you know
of any motive of self-interest that could have actuated Mr. Leslie in
assisting the count's schemes?"

Levy hesitated. The count took up the word. "Pardieu!" said he, in his
clear tone of determination and will--"pardieu! I can have no doubt
thrown on my assertion, least of all by those who know of its truth; and
I call upon you, Baron Levy, to state whether, in case of my marriage
with the duke's daughter, I had not agreed to present my sister with
a sum, to which she alleged some ancient claim, and which would have
passed through your hands?"

"Certainly, that is true," said the baron.

"And would Mr. Leslie have benefited by any portion of that sum?"

Levy paused again.

"Speak, sir," said the count, frowning.

"The fact is," said the baron, "that Mr. Leslie was anxious to complete
a purchase of certain estates that had once belonged to his family, and
that the count's marriage with the signora, and his sister's marriage
with Mr. Hazeldean, would have enabled me to accommodate Mr. Leslie with
a loan to