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156 "You! yes, and she will heed you, as much as the vulture does the whining of his prey. I tell you, I am desperate, Jane, and care not for the consequences. But," he added, "I will run no risk of discovery," and as he spoke, he drew a pistol from beneath his surtout, and putting the muzzle to his breast, said to Jane, "give me your solemn promise, that you will never betray me, or I will put myself beyond the reach of human punishment."

"Oh!" said Jane, "I will promise any thing. Do not destroy your soul and body both."

"Do you promise then?"

"I do, most solemnly."

"Then," said he, hastily replacing the pistol, and locking the desk with the false key he had obtained; "then all is as well as it can be. My mother will suspect, but she will not dare to tell whom; and your promise, Jane, makes me secure."

Jane saw he was so determined, that any further interposition would be useless, and she hurried away to her own apartment, where she threw herself upon her bed, sorrowing for the crimes and miseries of others. Quite exhausted with the fatigues of the night, she soon fell asleep.

She was too much distressed and terrified, to reflect upon the bad effects that might result from the exacted promise. She had, doubtless, been unnecessarily alarmed by David's threat of self-slaughter; for, confused and desperate as he was, he would hardly have proceeded to such an