ented for ruling music
paper, "and have sent for you to witness the signature to this document.
Here, Cashel, you are to sign here," said he, turning to Giovanni,
who-had just lighted a cigar, and was smoking away with all imaginable
coolness. The Italian took the pen, and with a bold and steady hand
wrote the words "Roland Cashel."

"Mr. Swindon at this side; Mr. Nipkin's name comes underneath."

"You acknowledge this for your hand and seal, sir?" said Swindon,
turning towards Giovanni.

"I do," said the Italian, in an accent which did not betray the
slightest emotion, nor any trace of foreign pronunciation.

"All right; thank you, Swindon--thanks, Mr. Nipkin," said Linton, as,
with an elation of countenance all his efforts could not suppress, he
folded up the parchment; "and now, will you order my horses at once?"

The landlord and the waiter left the room, and Linton found himself once
more alone with Giovanni; the only consolation he felt being that it was
for the last time. There was a pause, in which each gazed steadily at
the other without a word. At last, with a long-drawn sigh, Giovanni
exclaimed,--

"Perdio! but it is hard to do." And with this he pressed his hat upon
his brows, and waving a careless farewell with his hand, walked out,
leaving Linton in a state of amazement not altogether unmingled with
fear. Tom watched the tall and stalwart figure of the foreigner as he
moved through the crowd that filled the quay, and it was with a sense of
relief he could not explain to himself that he saw him cross the plank
that led to the steamer, on whose deck numerous passengers were already
assembled.

The bell rang out in warning of her approaching departure, and Linton
kept his eyes intently fixed upon the one figure, which towered above
the others around him. Already the scene of bustle portended the moment
of starting, and some were hastening on board, as others, with not less
eagerness, were endeavoring to get on shore; when, just at that instant,
the landlord's voice was heard.

"Mr. Hammond is just going off, sir; he wants to say one word to you
before he goes."

Mr. Hammond had just taken his seat in his carriage, and sat with one
hand upon the door, awaiting Linton's coming.

"I am run sharp for time, Mr. Linton," cried he, "and have not a second
to lose. I wish sincerely I could have given a little more time to that
document--not indeed that any feature of difficulty exists in forming
an opinio