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Rh of the sense? Alas! the dreadful reality returned with too strong conviction. But recently associates in the same prison, and now himself without a prospect of release, a prisoner of despair,—his cruel enemy had escaped alike the claims of his creditors and the calls of justice, carrying away with him every resource that he possessed, not essential only to his present exigencies, but also to the more important one, that of liquidating and lessening debts for which his person was held in durance.

Sometimes, losing sight of his own personal sufferings and indignation against the Baronet, he was led to accuse himself of inhumanity in not having, in the first instance, acceded to his demand; perhaps a sum of comparatively small amount might have satisfied him. Desperate indeed must have been his situation, tempting him to a deed fraught with ignominy and danger to himself, and ruin to his fellow-prisoner and friend.

Unsuspicious of any fresh cause for uneasiness, Mrs. De Brooke, awaking earlier than usual from the enjoyment of undisturbed repose of body and mind, was surprised to find her husband already risen. Unable to compose himself, he had stolen gently from her side, his eyes dim, and his