h difficulty, and to my astonishment
beheld the handsome countenance and glittering uniform of her
ladyship's favored lover, Captain St. Clair!

"'Villain,' said he, in his usual cold and haughty manner, (he was of
noble blood, and as proud as Lucifer,) 'you little imagined that I was
a witness of the entire scene in which you have played so praiseworthy
a part! Upon my honor, you are the most ambitious of butlers! Cooks
and chambermaids are not sufficiently delicate for your fastidious
taste, forsooth!--but you must aspire to ladies of noble birth! Faith,
I should not be surprised to hear of your attempting an intrigue with
her gracious Majesty, the Queen! Hark'ee, fellow, begone! and thank my
moderation that I do not punish you upon the spot, for your infernal
presumption! Yet I would scorn to tarnish the lustre of my good sword
with the blood of such a thing as thou!'

"'Captain,' said I, boldly, (for I am no coward, ladies and gentlemen,
as you all know,) 'as you have seen fit to play the spy, it is fair to
presume that you are acquainted with the circumstances upon which my
claim to the favor of this lady is based. At her instigation, and
prompted by her promises of reward, I have murdered Lord Hawley's
valet, Lagrange, in order to prevent his revealing to his master, the
criminal intimacy existing between you and her ladyship. Now, Captain,
I submit it to you as a man of honor--having committed such a deed,
and exposed myself to such a fearful risk, am I not entitled to the
reward promised by her ladyship? without the hope of which reward, I
never would have bedewed my hands in the blood of my fellow servant.
And can I justly be blamed for claiming that reward, and even for
attempting to obtain it by force, since I have faithfully earned it?'

"The Captain laughed, half in good nature, half in scorn, and said--

"'Faith, you are a well-spoken knave, and appeal to my honor as if you
were my equal; and I am half inclined to pardon your presumption on
account of your wit. Now listen, my good fellow;--her ladyship, as a
measure of policy, wished to have a certain person removed, who was
possessed of a dangerous secret; now you were the only available agent
she could employ to effect that removal. But you demanded a certain
favor, (which shall be nameless,) as the price of your services, and
would accept of no other remuneration. The danger was imm