ace of feeling--of generosity--of delicacy--of
truth--not one moral point to redeem him from contempt. He may be a
lord, Alice, but he is not a gentleman. Hardened, vicious, and stupid, I
can see he is, and altogether incapable of comprehending what is due to
the feelings of a lady, of a woman, which he I outrages without even the
consciousness of the offence. But, Alice, oh Alice! when I think--when I
compare him with--and may Heaven forgive me for the comparison!--when
I compare him with the noble, the generous, the delicate, the
true-hearted, and intellectual gentleman who has won and retains,
and ever will retain, my affections, I am sick almost to death at the
contrast. Satan, Alice, is a being whom we detest and fear, but cannot
despise. This mean profligate, however, is all vice, and low vice; for
even vice sometimes has its dignity. If you could conceive Michael
the Archangel resplendent with truth, brightness, and the glory of his
divine nature, and compare him with the meanest, basest, and at the same
time wickedest spirit that ever crawled in the depths of perdition, then
indeed you might form an opinion as to the relative character of this
Dunroe and my noble lover. And yet I cannot weep, Alice; I cannot weep,
for I feel that my brain is burning, and my heart scorched. And now, for
my only melancholy consolation!"

She then pulled from her bosom the portrait of her mother, by the
contemplation of which she felt the tumult of her heart gradually
subside; but, after having gazed at it for some time, she returned it
to its place next her heart; the consolation it had transiently afforded
her passed away, and the black and deadly gloom which had already
withered her so much came back once more.

CHAPTER XXXI. The Priest goes into Corbet's House very like a Thief

--a Sederunt, with a Bright look up for Mr. Gray.

It is unnecessary to say that the priest experienced slight regret at
the mistake which had been instrumental in bringing him into collision
with a man, who, although he could not afford them any trace of
unfortunate Fenton, yet enabled them more clearly to identify the
baronet with his fate. The stranger, besides, was satisfied from the
evidence of the pound note, and Trailcudgel's robbery, that his recent
disappearance was also owing to the same influence. Still, the evidence
was far from being complete, and they knew that if Fenton even were
found, it would be necessary to establish his id