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Rh at once their signification to the mind of Mauleverer. He glanced towards the letters, in which the writing seemed faint and discoloured by time or damp; and then once more regarding the face of Brandon, said in rather an anxious and subdued tone—

"Heavens, Brandon, are you ill? or has any thing happened?—you alarm me."

"Do you recognise these locks?" said Brandon in a hollow voice; and from under the letters he drew some ringlets of an auburn hue, and pushed them with an averted face towards Mauleverer.

The Earl took them up—regarded them for a few moments—changed colour, but shook his head with a negative gesture, as he laid them once more on the table.

"This handwriting, then?" renewed the Judge in a yet more impressive and painful voice; and he pointed to the letters.

Mauleverer raised one of them, and held it between his face and the lamp, so that whatever his features might have betrayed was hidden from his companion. At length he dropped the letter with an affected nonchalance, and said—