ured him that even when her suspicions as to the character of the
_Sea Hawk_ had been excited, she could not suppose that he was as guilty
as those with whom she found him associated, although she had not
believed him altogether as blameless as she should be rejoiced to find
that he in reality was.

"Thanks, lady, thanks, you already relieve my heart of a great weight,
by saying so," he exclaimed, checking the passionate expression which
was stealing into his tone and manner. "To convince you further that
you did me but justice, I will give you a brief outline of my history:--

"You see before you the last remnant of an old, and noble, and once
powerful family. My fathers were lords of a broad domain in the
neighbourhood of Brindisi, among the wild and rugged mountains which
form the eastern spur of the Appenines, and abut on the shores of the
Adriatic. They first rose and flourished in the days when the sword of
the strong hand could win lands and power, and when, whatever was lost
by the extravagance or folly of one, was easily replaced by the bravery
and daring of his successor. But in later years, although the former
means of repairing their damaged property no longer existed, yet, still
with rather frequent succession, a Lord of Montifalcone would assume the
family honours, who failed not to squander away property which he had no
means of replacing. Estate after estate was sold for several
generations, till, at last, my father found himself the heir to a
half-ruined castle on the borders of the ocean, and a few thousand acres
of unproductive land in the same neighbourhood. My mother, who is now a
saint in heaven, was as much so as a mortal can be when on earth; and
although my noble father inherited much of the true pride of ancient
ancestry, he was free from the folly and vice of his predecessors, and
he resolved to exert all his energies in repairing his broken fortunes,
and to hand down a fair estate to his progeny.

"By prudence and economy, he in a great manner, succeeded in doing so;
and as he considered that idleness had been the cause of the ruin his
ancestors had wrought on the family, he determined to give all his own
children professions, which should afford them employment, and the means
of support, despising the spirit which considered any employment besides
that of arms beneath the dignity of a noble.

"My eldest brother was, accordingly, educated to the profession of the
law, while I studied