death. Such, gentlemen, I doubt not, will the case prove; but, till the matter is properly sifted, I submit myself a prisoner." "Give me my sword again," said Sir Amias to the officer, who held it in his hand; but Ralph Hanslap snatched it away as the earl with the others retired. 66 No; this weapon you shall not at this time have ;" and the officer following his companions, Hanslap added, "I have been long in companionship with you, Sir Amias, and I thought I had your confidence, till I discovered that you had bribed Hubert Neville to do what I could have done better. Yes, Sir Amiás, I chanced to be under that window in the garden on the morning when Lord Edmund set out for Scotland.The casement was open, and I overheard your conversation with Hubert Neville. But"and he paused, looking steadily at Sir Amias, "I did not think that Lord Edmund had survived the battle." "And how has it been," cried Sir Amias, hoarsely, as if his throat and tongue were parched with thirst," that you have for such a number of years given me so many proofs of incorruptible fidelity? You have hastened on my ruin, Hanslap; you have helped me in my offences." "I was a dog, Sir Amias, in my attachment to you; why was it that you withheld your confidence and gave it to Hubert Neville, a fellow that had not the tithe of my honesty? The tithe!-he betrayed his master, and for that you preferred him to me." "I then thought, Hanslap," said Sir Amias with a sigh," that you would not have served me against my brother." "And for my probity then I was rejected. Have I not proved to you since,—have I not made you feel in the bottom of your heart, that I was a better man for your purpose than Hubert Neville ?" "Tremendous Heaven!" exclaimed Sir Amias in amazement," and has all the seeming true service which you have so long done for me arisen out of the workings of vindictive resentment ?" "Yes," was the stern answer; " and now 'tis at an end, and I shall enjoy the fruits of my revenge.". And with these words, says the Chronicler, Ralph Hanslap departed, leaving Sir Amias in the state of a forlorn creature within the fold and coil of that great eastern serpent which never parteth with its prey. CHAPTER VI. THE PENITENT. So shall the devious mind, that hath deplored A'S PROSPECTS OF THE WORLD. THERE is such an austere simplicity in Nature, that her physical operations cannot be changed but by the interference of a moral cause; nor the necessary course of her moral proceedings altered without employing physical force. This apophthegm, when applied to man, means that, unless he can be born again, he shall continue throughout the hereafter of his life much the same sort of being that he has been in the heretofore. And it was so illustrated by the conduct of Sir Amias de Crosby, who, as soon as Ralph Hanslap had left him, his consternation having in the meanwhile in some degree subsided, began to reflect in what manner he should act with regard to his brother. In the midst of his reflections Hubert Neville was announced. The meeting was at first a little embarrassing on both sides; but after a few brief questions, and unsatisfactory answers, the serious business of the scene commenced, by Neville saying "As I had promised to you, Sir Amias, that if Lord Edmund received a wound-" "There is no occasion," interrupted the knight, "to refer to that now." "Well, to pass it by; the wound he received was not mortal." Sir Amias rubbed his forehead, and impatiently wrung his hands, as he exclaimed— "I will hear nothing of that!" "You shall, Sir Amias," replied the other solemnly. "I am not the man now that I |