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304 King, in the midst of his profligate court, cared nothing about this disgrace: he had allowed the navy to become almost powerless, and spent his time and money in frivolous and wanton pleasures. I trembled for my idolized Helen, for I had heard sinister rumours of diabolical proceedings with respect to beautiful young girls. To add to the horrors and miseries of the wretched metropolis, the Plague broke out, and raged with fearful virulence, and the fear of even a more fearful visitant, famine, began to descend upon the citizens. At the commencement of these visitations my poor father died. The death of Kerford had added greatly to his fears and anxieties. The latter had died under most suspicious circumstances. He had constituted himself a spy upon Reginald, and made some damaging discoveries, and I could only imagine the cause of the fatal result. Why did I not take the wolf by the throat, and hurl him out into the street? The answer is—the Plague paralyzed everything.

'To bring my long story to a conclusion. One day I returned home from some business elsewhere a full hour sooner than anyone expected. The young men were busy, but Reginald was not with them. I went upstairs, and suddenly entered the apartment where Helen usually sat at her work. She was there, sitting with her back to the door, and she could not see who had entered. He was there also—bending over her, and leaning on the back of her chair. I paused at the door, scarcely breathing, the fiend of jealousy rankling in my heart, and whispering thoughts of desperation and murder. I heard him say: "Helen, dearest, the time is come; let us fly from this dreadful city. All is ready. I have money and trusty friends; Julius will not care: he loves others." And I heard her answer: "Dave you speak to me thus?—leave the room, wicked creature, or I will call Agnes, and alarm the house!" Then