certain is, we have no positive knowledge of his death;
but surely that is a thousand times preferable to the
horrid apprehensions under which we have all hitherto
laboured."

"What mean you, Sumners? or am I so bewildered by my
sufferings as not to comprehend you clearly?--Nay, nay,
forgive me; but I am almost heart-broken at this loss,
and scarcely know what I say. But what is it you mean?
I saw my unhappy brother lying on the common with my own
eyes. Poor Valletort, himself--" here a rush of bitter
recollections flashed on the memory of the young man,
and the tears coursed each other rapidly down his cheek.
His emotion lasted for a few moments, and he pursued,--"Poor
Valletort himself saw him, for he was nearly as much
overwhelmed with affliction as I was; and even Morrison
beheld him also, not ten minutes since, under the very
walls of the fort; nay, distinguished the wings of his
uniform: and yet you would persuade me my brother, instead
of being brought in a corpse, is still missing and alive.
This is little better than trifling with my wretchedness,
Sumners," and again he sank back exhausted on his pillow.

"I can easily forgive your doubts, De Haldimar," returned
the sympathizing Sumners, taking the hand of his companion,
and pressing it gently in his own; "for, in truth, there
is a great deal of mystery attached to the whole affair.
I have not seen the body myself; but I distinctly heard
Captain Erskine state it certainly was not your brother,
and he requested me to apprise both Sir Everard Valletort