n
precisely the same age as this unfortunate young creature."

"It is, indeed, an unfortunate affair that the Countess Sarah, from whom
we fancied we were for ever freed, should have become a widow exactly
eighteen months after his royal highness had been deprived by death of
the wife with whom he had passed years of wedded happiness. The
countess, I am persuaded, looks upon this double freedom from all
marriage vows as a signal intervention of Providence to further her
views."

"And her impetuous passion has become more ardent than ever, though she
is well aware that my lord feels for her the deepest aversion and
well-merited contempt. Was not her culpable indifference the cause of
her child's death? Did she not cause--Ah, baron," said Murphy, leaving
the sentence unfinished, "this woman is our evil genius. God grant she
may not reappear amongst us laden with fresh misfortunes!"

"But still, under present circumstances, any views Countess Sarah may
entertain must be absurd in the greatest degree; the death of the
unfortunate child you just now alluded to has broken the last tie which
might have attached my lord to this dangerous woman. She must be mad,
as well as foolish, to persist in so hopeless a pursuit."

"If she be mad, there is a dangerous 'method in her madness;' her
brother, you are aware, partakes of her ambitious schemes and obstinate
opinions of ultimate success. Although this worthy pair have as much
reason for utter despair as they had eighteen years since of entire
success--"

"Eighteen years! What an accumulation of evil has been wrought during
that period by the criminal compliance of that rascally Polidori!"

"By the way, talking of that miserable wretch, I have traced that he was
here about a year or two ago, suffering, no doubt, from the most perfect
destitution, or else subsisting by disgraceful and dishonourable
practices."

"What a pity that a man so largely endowed with penetration, talent,
deep learning, and natural intelligence, should sink so low!"

"The innate perversity of his character marred all these high qualities.
It is to be hoped he and the countess will not meet; the junction of two
such evil spirits is indeed to be feared, for what frightful
consequences might there not result from it! Now, touching the facts you
have been collecting, have you them about you?"

"Here," said the baron, drawing a paper from his pocket, "are the
various particulars I have been enabled to co