by the bed-side, and eagerly asked what was the matter.

"Treacherous, infamous girl," said he, "can you ask? How came he here?"
pointing to Belcour.

"As heaven is my witness," replied she weeping, "I do not know. I have
not seen him for these three weeks."

"Then you confess he sometimes visits you?"

"He came sometimes by your desire."

"'Tis false; I never desired him to come, and you know I did not: but
mark me, Charlotte, from this instant our connexion is at an end. Let
Belcour, or any other of your favoured lovers, take you and provide for
you; I have done with you for ever."

He was then going to leave her; but starting wildly from the bed, she
threw herself on her knees before him, protesting her innocence and
entreating him not to leave her. "Oh Montraville," said she, "kill me,
for pity's sake kill me, but do not doubt my fidelity. Do not leave me
in this horrid situation; for the sake of your unborn child, oh! spurn
not the wretched mother from you."

"Charlotte," said he, with a firm voice, "I shall take care that neither
you nor your child want any thing in the approaching painful hour; but
we meet no more." He then endeavoured to raise her from the ground;
but in vain; she clung about his knees, entreating him to believe her
innocent, and conjuring Belcour to clear up the dreadful mystery.

Belcour cast on Montraville a smile of contempt: it irritated him almost
to madness; he broke from the feeble arms of the distressed girl; she
shrieked and fell prostrate on the floor.

Montraville instantly left the house and returned hastily to the city.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MYSTERY DEVELOPED.

UNFORTUNATELY for Charlotte, about three weeks before this unhappy
rencontre, Captain Beauchamp, being ordered to Rhode-Island, his lady
had accompanied him, so that Charlotte was deprived of her friendly
advice and consoling society. The afternoon on which Montraville had
visited her she had found herself languid and fatigued, and after making
a very slight dinner had lain down to endeavour to recruit her exhausted
spirits, and, contrary to her expectations, had fallen asleep. She
had not long been lain down, when Belcour arrived, for he took every
opportunity of visiting her, and striving to awaken her resentment
against Montraville. He enquired of the servant where her mistress was,
and being told she was asleep, took up a book to amuse himself: having
sat a few minutes, he by chance cast his eyes towards th