f some secret enemy for
what had happened; and as I could remember nobody who had the least
cause of complaint against me, except Captain O'Donnell and my master's
daughter, my suspicion settled upon them, though I took care to conceal
it, that I might the sooner arrive at confirmation.

With this view, I went home in the chair about ten o'clock in the
morning; and as the chairman supported me into the house, met the
captain in the passage, who no sooner saw me than he started back and
gave evident signs of guilty confusion, which he would have accounted
for from surprise occasioned by the seeing me in such a condition. My
master having heard my story, condoled me with a good deal of sympathy,
and when he understood my wounds were not dangerous, ordered me to be
carried upstairs to bed; though not without some opposition from his
wife, who was of opinion that it would be better for me to go to an
hospital, where I should be more carefully attended. My meditation was
employed in concerting with myself some method of revenge against Squire
O'Donnell and his inamorata, whom I looked upon as the author of my
misfortune; when miss, who was not at home at my arrival, entered my
chamber, and saying she was sorry for the accident that had befallen me,
asked if I suspected anybody to be the assassin; upon which I fixed my
eyes steadfastly upon her and answered, "Yes." She discovered no symptom
of confusion, but replied hastily, "If that be the case, why don't
you take out a warrant, to have him apprehended? It will cost but a
trifle--if you have no money, I'll lend you." This frankness not only
cured me of my suspicion with respect to her, but even staggered my
belief with regard to the captain, of whose guilt I resolved to have
further proof before I should enterprise anything in the way of revenge.
I thanked her kindly for her generous offer, which, however, I had no
occasion to accept, being determined to do nothing rashly: for though I
could plainly perceive the person who attacked me to be a soldier,
whose face I thought was familiar to me, I could not swear with a safe
conscience to any particular man; and, granting I could, my prosecution
of him would not much avail.

This uncertainty I pretended, lest the captain, hearing from her that I
knew the person who wounded me, might think proper to withdraw before I
could be in a condition to requite him. In two days I was up and able
to do a little business, so that Mr. Laveme