Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/243

 "Et mon mattre, Monsieur, ou est-il?"

"I have murdered him," said I, "and you will find him on the sands, near the signal-post; and," continued I, " I am now robbing him!"

My appearance and actions seemed to prove the truth of my assertion. The man flew out of the room; but I was regardless of every thing, and even wonder why I should have given my attention to the letters at all, especially as I had now convinced myself of Talbot's innocence. The packet, however, I did read; and it consisted of a series of letters between Talbot and his father, who had engaged him toa young lady of rank and fortune, without consulting him—une mariage de convenance— which 'Talbot had resisted in consequence of his attachment to Clara.

I have already stated that Talbot was of high aristocratic family; and this marriage being wished for by the parents of both parties, they had given it out as being finally settled to