suitor for this dear hand, to become myself
your petitioner!"

"Corpo di Bacco!" cried the sage, almost embracing Harley, "this,
indeed, is joyful news. But I must not again make a rash pledge,--not
again force my child's inclinations. And Violante; you see, is running
away."

The duke stretched out his arm, and detained his child. He drew her
to his breast, and whispered in her ear. Violante blushed crimson, and
rested her head on his shoulder. Harley eagerly pressed forward.

"There," said the duke, joining Harley's hand with his daughter's, "I
don't think I shall hear much more of the convent; but anything of this
sort I never suspected. If there be a language in the world for which
there is no lexicon nor grammar, it is that which a woman thinks in, but
never speaks."

"It is all that is left of the language spoken in paradise," said
Harley.

"In the dialogue between Eve and the serpent,--yes," quoth the
incorrigible sage. "But who comes here?--our friend Leonard."

Leonard now entered the room; but Harley could scarcely greet him,
before he was interrupted by the count. "Milord," said Peschiera,
beckoning him aside, "I have fulfilled my promise, and I will now leave
your roof. Baron Levy returns to London, and offers me a seat in his
carriage, which is already, I believe, at your door. The duke and his
daughter will readily forgive me if I do not ceremoniously bid
them farewell. In our altered positions, it does not become me too
intrusively to claim kindred; it became me only to remove, as I trust I
have done, a barrier against the claim. If you approve my conduct, you
will state your own opinion to the duke." With a profound salutation the
count turned to depart; nor did Harley attempt to stay him, but attended
him down the stairs with polite formality.

"Remember only, my Lord, that I solicit nothing. I may allow myself to
accept,--voilia tout." He bowed again, with the inimitable grace of the
old regime, and stepped into the baron's travelling carriage.

Levy, who had lingered behind, paused to accost L'Estrange. "Your
Lordship will explain to Mr. Egerton how his adopted son deserved his
esteem, and repaid his kindness. For the rest, though you have bought up
the more pressing and immediate demands on Mr. Egerton, I fear that even
your fortune will not enable you to clear those liabilities which will
leave him, perhaps, a pauper!"

"Baron Levy," said Harley, abruptly, "if I have forgiven Mr. Egerton