"Ay," replied Varney, "said he so, indeed? You know all, then?"

"All--all; and you were as wise to make a friend of me while the weather

is fair betwixt us."

"And was there no one present," said Varney, "when my lord so spoke?"

"Not a breathing creature," replied Lambourne. "Think you my lord would

trust any one with such matters, save an approved man of action like

myself?"

"Most true," said Varney; and making a pause, he looked forward on the

moonlight road. They were traversing a wide and open heath. The litter

being at least a mile before them, was both out of sight and hearing.

He looked behind, and there was an expanse, lighted by the moonbeams,

without one human being in sight. He resumed his speech to Lambourne:

"And will you turn upon your master, who has introduced you to

this career of court-like favour--whose apprentice you have been,

Michael--who has taught you the depths and shallows of court intrigue?"

"Michael not me!" said Lambourne; "I have a name will brook a MASTER

before it as well as another; and as to the rest, if I have been

an apprentice, my indenture is out, and I am resolute to set up for

myself."

"Take thy quittance first, thou fool!" said Varney; and with a pistol,

which he had for some time held in his hand, shot Lambourne through the

body.

The wretch fell from his horse without a single groan; and Varney,

dismounting, rifled his pockets, turning out the lining, that it might

appear he had fallen by robbers. He secured the Earl's packet, which was

his chief object; but he also took Lambourne's purse, containing some

gold pieces, the relics of what his debauchery had left him, and from a

singular combination of feelings, carried it in his hand only the length

of a small river, which crossed the road, into which he threw it as far

as he could fling. Such are the strange remnants of conscience which

remain after she seems totally subdued, that this cruel and remorseless

man would have felt himself degraded had he pocketed the few pieces

belonging to the wretch whom he had thus ruthlessly slain.

The murderer reloaded his pistol after cleansing the lock and barrel

from the appearances of late explosion, and rode calmly after the

litter, satisfying himself that he had so adroitly removed a troublesome

witness to many of his intrigues, and the bearer of mandates which he

had no intentions to obey, and which, therefore, he was desirous it

should be thought had never reached his hand.




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