er husband for the necessary
funds, which I bound her not to do, assuring her that such a step would
inevitably bring about my ruin. At length she promised to think the
matter over and do what she could for me, promising to meet me again the
next evening.

"It so happened, however, that the pursuit after me was so hot that I
was compelled to be closely hidden for nearly a fortnight, during which
I have reason to believe that your mother suffered the keenest anxiety
on my account. When at length I dared venture out again I found your
mother's distress more keen than ever because she had been unable to
obtain even the modest sum of money I had named as necessary to secure
my safety. She bade me meet her again. I did so, only to find her
still in the same pitiable state of helplessness and distress. I met
her again, and yet again--seven times in all; and at our last meeting
your mother pressed into my hand a small package of money--the proceeds
of the sale of her own private jewels, as a hastily-written tear-blotted
note inside informed me. The assistance, however, came just too late.
I was arrested that very night and cast into prison, where, without even
the pretence of a trial, I was confined for seven long years among the
vilest of the vile. I should probably have been there still had I not
succeeded in effecting my escape. But those seven years of misery
unutterable had done their work upon me; I entered the prison a harmless
enough young fellow, save that I was the victim of a mistaken
enthusiasm; I emerged from it _a fiend_, my heart full to overflowing of
hatred for the entire human race, with which I have warred, in one way
or another, from that day to this.

"Such, Senor Lascelles, is my story; my only excuse for telling you
which is the tender memories of your sainted mother, evoked by your
extraordinary personal resemblance to her. You have listened to me with
a patient kindness which you must surely have inherited from her, and I
thank you; the thought of her has made me once more human; I feel the
better for having been permitted to take her honoured name once more
upon my lips; but now, senor, with your permission I will rest a little;
I am weary, and oh, so very weak."

I withdrew, and making my way to Albuquerque's berth, begged permission
of the owner to occupy it for an hour or two; which permission being
obtained, I sat down then and there, and, whilst Merlani's story was
still fresh in my m