wn confessor, and he then
acknowledged that he was an agent of my mother and Father Ignatio, and
had been the means of making it appear that I was the committer of all
the crimes and murders which had been perpetrated by them, with a view
to my destruction. A strong emetic having been administered to him, he
partially revived, and was taken to Palermo, where he gave his evidence
before he expired.

"When this was made known, the king revoked his sentence, apologised to
me, and I found that once more I was visited and courted by everybody.
My mother was ordered to be shut up in a convent, where she died, I
trust, in grace, and Father Ignatio fled to Italy, and I have been
informed is since dead.

"Having thus rid myself of my principal enemies, I considered myself
safe. I married the lady whom you have just seen, and before my eldest
son was born, Don Silvio, for such was the name given to my asserted
legitimate brother, came of age, and demanded his succession. Had he
asked me for a proper support, as my uterine brother, I should not have
refused; but that the son of Friar Ignatio, who had so often attempted
my life, should, in case of my decease, succeed to the title and
estates, was not to be borne. A lawsuit was immediately commenced,
which lasted four or five years, during which Don Silvio married, and
had a son, that young man whom you heard me address by the same name;
but after much litigation, it was decided that my father's confessor and
will had proved his illegitimacy, and the suit was in my favour. From
that time to this there has been a constant enmity. Don Silvio refused
all my offers of assistance, and followed me with a pertinacity which
often endangered my life. At last he fell by the hands of his own
agents, who mistook him for me. Don Silvio died without leaving any
provision for his family; his widow I pensioned, and his son I have had
carefully brought up, and have indeed treated most liberally, but he
appears to have imbibed the spirit of his father, and no kindness has
been able to imbue him with gratitude.

"He had lately been placed by me in the army, where he found out my two
sons, and quarrelled with them both upon slight pretence; but, in both
instances, he was wounded and carried off the field.

"My two sons have been staying with me these last two months, and did
not leave till yesterday. This morning Don Silvio, accompanied by Don
Scipio, came to the house, and after accusing