o great was the influence of Berkeley, over the minds of the court,
that, after a feeble remonstrance, the petition of the prisoner was
rejected. Old Beverley alone, was heard to mutter in the ear of Philip
Ludwell, that it was a shame to deny a brave man a soldier's death, and
doom him to a dog's fate.

"And for all this," he added, "its a damned hard lot, and blast me, but
I think Hansford to be worth in bravery and virtue, fifty of that
painted popinjay, Bernard, whose cruelty is as much beyond his years as
his childish vanity is beneath them."

"Well, gentlemen, I trust you are now satisfied," said Berkeley.
"Sheriff, remove your prisoner, and," looking angrily around at the
malecontents, "if necessary, summon an additional force to assist you."

The officer, however, deemed no such precaution necessary, and the
hapless Hansford was conducted back to his cell under the same guard
that brought him thence; there to await the execution on the morrow of
the fearful sentence to which he had been condemned.

CHAPTER XLVI.

_Isabella._ "Yet show some pity.

_Angelo._ I show it most of all when I show justice."
_Measure for Measure._

That evening Sir William Berkeley was sitting in the private room at the
tavern, which had been fitted up for his reception. He had strictly
commanded his servants to deny admittance to any one who might wish to
see him. The old man was tired of counsellors, advisers, and
petitioners, who harassed him in their attempt to curb his impatient
ire, and he was determined to act entirely for himself. He had thus been
sitting for more than an hour, looking moodily into the fire, without
even the officious Lady Frances to interfere with his reflections, when
a servant in livery entered the room.

"If your Honour please," said the obsequious servitor, "there is a lady
at the door who says she must see you on urgent business. I told her
that you could not be seen, but she at last gave me this note, which she
begged me to hand you."

Berkeley impatiently tore open the note and read as follows:--

"By his friendship for my father, and his former kindness to me, I
ask for a brief interview with Sir William Berkeley.
"VIRGINIA TEMPLE."

"Fore God!" said the Governor, angrily, "they beset me with an
importunity which makes me wretched. What the devil can the girl want!
Some