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38 successful, and himself a prisoner! He cursed his ill-luck. "That very light, which I hear the fools behind me taking for a falling star, and drawing portents from already, might well serve for an omen of my present enterprise. It has been carefully concealed, and studiously prepared,—it sets out on its radiant ascent full of bright hopes; suddenly it bursts, the glittering sparkles die away, and all is calm and dark as before. The emblem of this enterprise—why, it is the very emblem of my fate! Pshaw! there are many follies in this world, but none so foolish as regret. At all events, I am not dead yet; though rather nearer his skeleton majesty's presence than I at all desire. Well, I wonder whether they will hang, head, or shoot me? Now really the illustrious house of Evelyn ought to be complimented with the axe; but these beggarly Roundheads have no idea of a gentleman's feelings." And to the infinite displeasure of his conductors, the young cavalier began humming a popular Royalist song.