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202 assure you not one word of the instructions will be neglected."

A sweet smile and a soft word have usually their desired effect; and so they had on the owner of the falcon, and fixing the following morning to conclude their bargain, he withdrew.

Arden, who had for the last few minutes been sitting in a gloomy reverie, now approached them, and said,—

"This sudden arrest has completely altered my plan; selfish that I am, to feel it a relief, this delay in meeting with your father! But to-morrow I will ride over, learn more accurate tidings, and see if there be accommodation for you at my brother's. There best may you await Lord Avonleigh's release."

No possible objection could be raised to this scheme; and the party retired to rest. Wearied out, Francesca at once fell asleep—a slumber which would have been broken by anxiety, could she have known the feverish restlessness which kept Guido wakeful on his unquiet pillow, listening—and dreary it was to listen through the night—to the distant dash of the waves, as they rose beneath the loud and sweeping wind.