at least and tranquil.'

'For the pious, Paradise exists everywhere,' said Lady Annabel.

'You have been in England, holy father?' said Venetia.

'It has not been my good fortune,' replied the monk.

'Yet you speak our tongue with a facility and accent that surprise
me.'

'I learnt it in America where I long resided,' rejoined the Armenian.

'This is for your eye, lady,' continued the monk, drawing a letter
from his bosom.

Lady Annabel felt not a little surprised; but the idea immediately
occurred to her that it was some conventual memorial appealing to her
charity. She took the paper from the monk, who immediately moved away;
but what was the agitation of Lady Annabel when she recognised the
handwriting of her husband! Her first thought was to save Venetia
from sharing that agitation. She rose quickly; she commanded herself
sufficiently to advise her daughter, in a calm tone, to remain seated,
while for a moment she refreshed herself by a stroll. She had not
quitted Venetia many paces, when she broke the seal and read these
lines:

'Tremble not, Annabel, when you recognise this handwriting. It is that
of one whose only aspiration is to contribute to your happiness; and
although the fulfilment of that fond desire may be denied him, it
never shall be said, even by you, that any conduct of his should now
occasion you annoyance. I am in Venice at the peril of my life, which
I only mention because the difficulties inseparable from my position
are the principal cause that you did not receive this communication
immediately after our strange meeting. I have gazed at night upon your
palace, and watched the forms of my wife and our child; but one word
from you, and I quit Venice for ever, and it shall not be my fault if
you are ever again disturbed by the memory of the miserable Herbert.

'But before I go, I will make this one appeal if not to your justice,
at least to your mercy. After the fatal separation of a life, we have
once more met: you have looked upon me not with hatred; my hand has
once more pressed yours; for a moment I indulged the impossible hope,
that this weary and exhausted spirit might at length be blessed. With
agony I allude to the incident that dispelled the rapture of
this vision. Sufficient for me most solemnly to assure you that
four-and-twenty hours had not elapsed without that feeble and
unhallowed tie being severed for ever! It vanished instantaneously
before the presence of my wife and my