married Mr. Hazeldean. Express to him my congratulations on his escape."

"Nay, he must not know that I have inadvertently betrayed his confidence;
but you now guess, what perhaps puzzled you before,--namely, how I came
to be so well acquainted with the count and his movements. I was so
intimate with my relation Frank, and Frank was affianced to the
marchesa."

"I am glad you give me that explanation; it suffices. After all, the
marchesa is not by nature a bad woman,--that is, not worse than women
generally are, so Harley says, and Violante forgives and excuses her."

"Generous Violante! But it is true. So much did the marchesa appear to
me possessed of fine, though ill-regulated qualities, that I always
considered her disposed to aid in frustrating her brother's criminal
designs. So I even said, if I remember right, to Violante."

Dropping this prudent and precautionary sentence, in order to guard
against anything Violante might say as to that subtle mention of Beatrice
which had predisposed her to confide in the marchesa, Randal then hurried
on, "But you want repose. I leave you the happiest, the most grateful of
men. I will give your courteous message to Frank."




CHAPTER XII.

Curious to learn what had passed between Beatrice and Frank, and deeply
interested in all that could oust Frank out of the squire's goodwill, or