ut as the old man had not
shewn any mind to have recourse to superstitious devices, still less
to give ear to his covert hints, so that the stranger might have
brought his own neck into the noose if he had betrayed too much, he
drew off and remained faithful to his confederate Eleazar, who had
quieted him with a sum of money, along with large promises for the
future.

The old man's great bell now rang, and Edward took up his papers and
went to him. "You have lookt over and corrected all my accounts, my
dear friend?" he began with outward calmness. Edward said yes, as he
set down the books; but he hesitated and knew not whether to give in
Eleazar's will along with them. The old man however took it himself
out of his hand and cast his eyes over it.

"It is now three months," he began, "since he made me heir to all he
has, in case he should die before me. He has drawn up a list of all
his effects, and points out where each thing may be found. The chief
article is a number of gold bars, which he says are of his own making.
Read it."

Edward took the papers with some embarrassment. "Is it not true?" said
the old man after some time, "does any thing but madness animate and
rule the whole world? Can you understand this man and his character in
any other way? To be sure this word itself does not help us to
understand it. O young man, young man, do you not feel now how
thoroughly right I was? I trusted this man unlimitedly, because he was
not girt round with any delusive deceitful show; because nothing in my
heart sallied forth to meet him, and I did not lie to myself in his
behalf for the sake of pampering my own vanity. Ay, my friend, now
everything is detected and noised abroad; he is going ... and in this
will he gives me back what the lawyers would call my property. His
will! Now forsooth it must also be time to make mine, and a different
one from what I intended. Now your nice feelings of honour will no
doubt condescend to stay with me a little longer ... and my child, my
Rose! alas, how fearful it is that this darling of my heart is also a
human being!"

"At such an hour as this," answered Edward, "which must needs strike
you with horrour, I will not again declare the wishes of my heart to
you; you yourself have toucht upon them, or I should have refrained
even from these words. But undoubtedly I must now stay with you:
destiny compells me to do so, and imposes it as a sacred duty upon
me."

"Destiny with a vengea