, insensible to the affliction under which he had
so recently and so painfully laboured. Often, in his dreary night
watches, when sleep set no seal upon his aching lids, or when they
closed for a little over the strained and worn eyeballs, and then opened
in terror at frightful images that haunted his fevered fancy--often, at
such times had he endeavoured to offer up a thanksgiving, that she was
gone from the wrath, the avenging horrors--the approach of which he
dreaded a thousand times more than death.

The application that had been made to the Protector for Dalton's pardon,
had been treated as he expected; and his only chance of accomplishing
the object of the Buccaneer, now rested on the possibility of his
gaining over certain persons of the court, to exert their influence with
Cromwell in the outlaw's behalf. Sir Robert's personal interest did not
extend far, but the influence of his gold did. The Protector could free
himself from outward sinners, but he could not rid himself of the more
smooth, and consequently more dangerous, villains, generated by the
peculiar forms and habits of the times. To some of these, Sir Robert had
secretly offered temptation in every way: the stake was large, the
danger certain; for he well knew the inflexibility of Dalton's
character, and that he would not fail to perform that upon which he had
resolved. It had occurred to him, more than once, to consult Burrell on
the subject; but a dread of his future son-in-law, for which he could
not account, had hitherto prevented his naming to him the Buccaneer's
desire to be a legalised commander. His anxiety to carry his point now,
however, overcame his timidity, and he resolved to speak to him on the
matter, at the very time the knight had decided on addressing the
baronet--under equal weighty circumstances--on the subject of his
marriage. Unfortunately for Sir Robert Cecil, he was the first to unfold
his plan; and thus gave the wily Burrell another and a firmer hold than
he had yet possessed. After repinings over his health, and murmurs
against mankind, had somewhat lessened that secret and consuming misery
that enveloped him as with a winding sheet, he inquired if Burrell had
lately encountered a man they must both remember,--Hugh Dalton,--a bold,
but reckless fellow, who had played cavalier, buccaneer, and a thousand
other characters in turn--all characters, in fact, save that of a
coward. Burrell replied in the negative; but confessed he kne