Page:Duty and Inclination. Volume 3.pdf/112

110 ingenuity to discover. Cruel alternative!—at the very moment his fondest hopes were about to be realized,—that happiness should thus elude his grasp!

Torturing state of mind! to what should he resort? The ardour of his passion for Rosilia insensibly cooled when he surveyed the danger, the numerous embarrassments that would necessarily surround him from the heavy pecuniary loss he had sustained. Dispirited, bewildered, how could he, at such a crisis, summon resolution for carrying on so desperate an undertaking?

Melliphant awaited his decision; Sir Howard seized the dice from his hand; pecuniary necessities, ideas of entanglement and ruin, prevailed over every other consideration less urgent.

"You know the terms?' exclaimed Melliphant.

The dice were thrown, and Melliphant,—the triumphant and exulting Melliphant,—won the chance!

His face crimsoned with joy, and he bounded like lightning from his seat.

"Auspicious omen?" cried he, "Sir Howard, you have sworn to the agreement."

"You need not doubt me," replied he, "I shall fulfil it."

Thus with them terminated that night, and with it that iniquitous plot contrived by Sir Howard, which, had it not been thus defeated, would have involved not only the innocent Rosilia, but her suffering