dman on whose head the thunderbolt of a greater curse
than human anger ever breathes had fallen. In his horrible affliction
the Criminal triumphed over the Avenger!

"Yes! yes!" shouted Cesarini, again; "they tell me she is dying; but
he is by her side;--pluck him thence--he shall not touch her hand--she
shall not bless him--she is mine--if I killed her, I have saved her from
him--she is mine in death. Let me in, I say,--I will come in,--I will, I
will see her, and strangle him at her feet." With that, by a tremendous
effort, he tore himself from the clutch of his holders, and with a
sudden and exultant bound sprang across the room, and stood face to
face with Maltravers. The proud brave than turned pale, and recoiled a
step--"It is he! it is he!" shrieked the maniac, and he leaped like a
tiger at the throat of his rival. Maltravers quickly seized his arm, and
whirled him round. Cesarini fell heavily on the floor, mute, senseless,
and in strong convulsions.

"Mysterious Providence!" murmured Maltravers, "thou hast justly rebuked
the mortal for dreaming he might arrogate to himself thy privilege of
vengeance. Forgive the sinner, O God, as I do--as thou teachest this
stubborn heart to forgive--as she forgave who is now with thee, a
blessed saint in heaven!"

When, some minutes afterwards, the doctor, who had been sent for,
arrived, the head of the stricken patient lay on the lap of his foe, and
it was the hand of Maltravers that wiped the froth from the white lips,
and the voice of Maltravers that strove to soothe, and the tears of
Maltravers that were falling on that fiery brow.

"Tend him, sir, tend him as my brother," said Maltravers, hiding his
face as he resigned the charge. "Let him have all that can alleviate and
cure--remove him hence to some fitter abode--send for the best advice.
Restore him, and--and--" He could say no more, but left the room
abruptly.

It was afterwards ascertained that Cesarini had remained in the streets
after his short interview with Ernest, that at length he had knocked at
Lord Saxingham's door just in the very hour when death had claimed
its victim. He heard the announcement--he sought to force his way
up-stairs--they thrust him from the house, and nothing more of him
was known till he arrived at his own door, an hour before Danvers and
Maltravers came, in raging frenzy. Perhaps by one of the dim erratic
gleams of light which always chequer the darkness of insanity, he
retained some