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68 the one for the other. I heard him speak of you, though our meeting in France was the effect of chance. Thither he followed you, saw you talking to me at the theatre, and believed that I had supplanted him. Reproach was alien to his generous temperament; he commended you to my dear love, and left Paris."

Francis Evelyn paused, for though he expected agitation, he was not prepared for the shock which his words inflicted. Francesca sank senseless at his feet. The noise of her fall called the attention of the others. Alive to every chance of escape, fearing to see his prisoner vanish through some concealed door, Major Johnstone rushed forward. On observing the state of Francesca, a gleam of commiseration passed over his severe aspect; he aided Francis to raise her, and beckoning one of the soldiers, gave her into his arms, and bade him carry the still insensible girl to the family. The man obeyed, and, with a kindliness which indicated a gentler nature than his rugged look promised, bore her carefully as a child from the chamber.

"Are you ready, sir?" said Major Johnstone.

"Not yet!—not yet!" exclaimed Evelyn, with an appearance of agitation, which he strove in vain to suppress. "I ask but a very, very brief delay;