f distinction, honour, and Constance Cecil as your
bride!"

He paused as for reply, but the Cavalier made none; he only leaned his
head against his hand, as if communing with himself.

"She will be miserable," persisted the crafty soldier; "inevitable
misery will be her lot; and you can prevent it, if you please." He fixed
his eyes upon Walter, as if to read the secrets of his soul; then,
unsatisfied with the scrutiny, continued--"Burrell, as you have
observed, cannot make her happy: so much beauty, so much worth!--you
cannot hesitate--your single arm could not accomplish the end you aim
at."

"Peace, tempter, peace!" exclaimed the Cavalier, bursting as fearlessly
and as splendidly from his repose as the sun from behind a dark but yet
silent thunder-cloud. "You might have conquered," he continued in a more
subdued tone, "had not the knowledge of the love of Constantia Cecil
saved me, as it has often done. She would only loathe the man who could
change his principles from any motive but conviction. Enough,
sir--enough, sir! I know not who you really are; but this I know, I
would no more see her despoiled of her rectitude than of her chastity.
Had she been here, she would have acted as I have done:--no, she would
have acted better, for she would not have hesitated."

The veteran remained silent for a few moments after this burst of strong
and noble feeling; he then slowly and deliberately put on his hat, drew
the thick buff gloves over his muscular hands, resumed the cloak that
had fallen from his shoulder, and pointed to the door.

"Do you mean," inquired Walter, "that I am at liberty to depart?"

"You are to go with me; but you are still to consider yourself under
arrest."

"To go--whither?"

"You go with me. You might have been at liberty; but now--you go with
me. And, one word more. Walk gently if you value life, or what may be
dearer than life. I am not one to have my will disputed. You will learn
as much; but now, I say, walk gently. I wish not to disturb this giddy
household: they prate, like others of their sort, of people's doings,
and 'tis not meet to grant them opportunity."

"I am a man of desperate fortunes now," thought the young Cavalier, as
he followed his mysterious guide through some winding and to him unknown
passages of the mansion--"a man of desperate fortunes, and care not
where I go."

As they passed through the shrubbery, he saw distinctly the rays of a
lamp stream from Constantia's wi