hundred now, and the remaining five hundred when the lady to whom I am attached becomes my wife."
These terms were satisfactory to both parties, and Melrose left, with demoniacal smile, his Lordship's presence, hugging his ill-gotten bribe. However, instead of having accomplices to prosecute his villainous plan, he plunged once more into his profligate habits, in gambling and other excesses, until his money was again swallowed up.
On finding himself again penniless, and no nearer the object of his revenge, or likely to earn the other five hundred pounds, he purchased a brace of pistols, with the last money in his possession, with the intention either to finish his own life, or take that of his enemy. He debated a long time in his mind which of these atrocious crimes he would attempt, when the love of his own prevailed, and that of taking Charlie's was resolved upon.
Charlie had at length some prospect of going abroad, and had entered upon a speculation by which he hoped to earn a small fortune. This was in joining a partner, named Stevenson, a gentleman of his own acquaintance, who had chartered a vessel to carry articles of trade to New Zealand, for the purpose of exchanging them with the natives of that country for land. This Charlie kept as yet a secret; not even telling Bella, whom he but seldom met, as he never visited her uncle, that gentleman being a great advocate of Lord Lundy's.
Donald Munro was often in attendance upon his master and Mr. Stevenson, visiting places of business, and often noticed a suspicious-looking person, who, in a Spanish cloak and slouched hat, dogged them from place to place. He told his master of the circumstance, but Charlie, not minding it, treated his servant's suspicion as trifling. However, Donald was resolved on watching more closely for the future.
One evening, as the two gentlemen were walking arm in arm through one of the bye-streets, Munro kept on the opposite side, and observed the same suspicious person following them at a short distance. On nearing a cross-lane, where the traffic was less, and badly lighted,
