high-priests and prophets of the press, may, as in
duty bound, offer some small gift of our own: a little mite truly,
but given with good-will. Come up, then, fair Catherine and brave
Count;--appear, gallant Brock, and faultless Billings;--hasten hither,
honest John Hayes: the former chapters are but flowers in which we have
been decking you for the sacrifice. Ascend to the altar, ye innocent
lambs, and prepare for the final act: lo! the knife is sharpened, and
the sacrificer ready! Stretch your throats, sweet ones,--for the public
is thirsty, and must have blood!

* This was written in 1840.

CHAPTER THE LAST.

That Mr. Hayes had some notion of the attachment of Monsieur de
Galgenstein for his wife is very certain: the man could not but perceive
that she was more gaily dressed, and more frequently absent than usual;
and must have been quite aware that from the day of the quarrel until
the present period, Catherine had never asked him for a shilling for the
house expenses. He had not the heart to offer, however; nor, in truth,
did she seem to remember that money was due.

She received, in fact, many sums from the tender Count. Tom was likewise
liberally provided by the same personage; who was, moreover, continually
sending presents of various kinds to the person on whom his affections
were centred.

One of these gifts was a hamper of choice mountain-wine, which had been
some weeks in the house, and excited the longing of Mr. Hayes, who loved
wine very much. This liquor was generally drunk by Wood and Billings,
who applauded it greatly; and many times, in passing through the
back-parlour,--which he had to traverse in order to reach the stair,
Hayes had cast a tender eye towards the drink; of which, had he dared,
he would have partaken.

On the 1st of March, in the year 1726, Mr. Hayes had gathered together
almost the whole sum with which he intended to decamp; and having on
that very day recovered the amount of a bill which he thought almost
hopeless, he returned home in tolerable good-humour; and feeling, so
near was his period of departure, something like security. Nobody had
attempted the least violence on him: besides, he was armed with pistols,
had his money in bills in a belt about his person, and really reasoned
with himself that there was no danger for him to apprehend.

He entered the house about dusk, at five o'clock. Mrs. Hayes was absent
with Mr. Billings; only Mr. Wood was smoking, accordi