emplated with a savage delight.

"I was embarrassed in my scheme by two circumstances: first, Thornton's
acquaintance with you; and, secondly, Tyrrell's receipt (some time
afterwards) of a very unexpected sum of two hundred pounds, in return
for renouncing all further and possible claim on the purchasers of his
estate. To the former, so far as it might interfere with my plans
or lead to my detection, you must pardon me for having put a speedy
termination: the latter threw me into great consternation; for Tyrrell's
first idea was to renounce the gaming-table, and endeavour to live upon
the trifling pittance he had acquired as long as the utmost economy
would permit.

"This idea Margaret, the woman I spoke of, according to my instructions,
so artfully and successfully combated that Tyrrell yielded to his
natural inclination, and returned once more to the infatuation of his
favourite pursuit. However, I had become restlessly impatient for the
conclusion to this prefatory part of my revenge; and, accordingly,
Thornton and myself arranged that Tyrrell should be persuaded by the
former to risk all, even to his very last farthing, in a private game
with me. Tyrrell, who believed he should readily recruit himself by my
unskilfulness in the game, fell easily into the snare; and on the second
night of our engagement, he not only had lost the whole of his remaining
pittance, but had signed bonds owning to a debt of far greater amount
than he, at that time, could ever even have dreamt of possessing.

"Flushed, heated, almost maddened with my triumph, I yielded to the
exultation of the moment. I did not know you were so near,--I discovered
myself,--you remember the scene. I went joyfully home: and for the
first time since Gertrude's death I was happy; but there I imagined my
vengeance only would begin; I revelled in the burning hope of marking
the hunger and extremity that must ensue. The next day, when Tyrrell
turned round, in his despair, for one momentary word of comfort from the
lips to which he believed, in the fond credulity of his heart, falsehood
and treachery never came, his last earthly friend taunted and deserted
him. Mark me, Pelham: I was by and heard her! But here my power of
retribution was to close: from the thirst still unslaked and unappeased,
the cup was abruptly snatched. Tyrrell disappeared; no one knew whither.
I set Thornton's inquiries at work. A week afterwards he brought me word
that Tyrrell had died in e