"Solmes took up the argument, when Francis released me by leaving
the room. He spoke of my father's resentment, should this enterprise
reach his ears--of the revenge of Mowbray of St. Ronan's, whose
nature was both haughty and rugged--of risk from the laws of the
country, and God knows what bugbears besides, which, at a more
advanced age, I would have laughed at. In a word, I sealed the
capitulation, vowed perpetual absence, and banished myself, as they
say in this country, forth of Scotland.

"And here, Harry, observe and respect my genius. Every circumstance
was against me in this negotiation. I had been the aggressor in the
war; I was wounded, and, it might be said, a prisoner in my
antagonist's hands; yet I could so far avail myself of Monsieur
Martigny's greater eagerness for peace, that I clogged the treaty
with a condition highly advantageous to myself, and equally
unfavourable to him.--Said Mr. Francis Martigny was to take upon
himself the burden of my right honourable father's displeasure; and
our separation, which was certain to give immense offence, was to be
represented as his work, not as mine. I insisted, tender-hearted,
dutiful soul, as I was, that I would consent to no measure which was
to bring down papa's displeasure. This was a _sine qua non_ in our
negotiation.

'Voila ce que c'est d'avoir des talens!'

"Monsieur Francis would, I suppose, have taken the world on his
shoulders, to have placed an eternal separation betwixt his
turtledove and the falcon who had made so bold a pounce at
her.--What he wrote to my father, I know not; as for myself, in all
duty, I represented the bad state of my health from an accident, and
that my brother and companion having been suddenly called from me
by some cause which he had not explained, I had thought it necessary
to get to London for the best advice, and only waited his lordship's
permission to return to the paternal mansion. This I soon received,
and found, as I expected, that he was in towering wrath against my
brother for his disobedience; and, after some time, I even had
reason to think, (as how could it be otherwise, Harry?) that, on
becoming better acquainted with the merits and amiable manners of
his apparent heir, he lost any desire which he might formerly have
entertained, of accomplishing any change in my c