EPISODE FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL. 313 



to the mansion of Argyle, but remained privately in the neighbour- 

 hood, watching their opportunity. 



One morning, when I and all the neighbouring gentlemen, 

 headed by the duke and his friends, were hunting the stag, Earl 



P and his son suddenly appeared among the sportsmen. You 



may imagine what the nature of those sensations were, that were felt 

 by me, the instant I beheld them. At first, they appeared to join in 

 the hunt, but still keeping at a convenient distance from me. They 

 were excellently mounted ; and in less than half an hour, when they 

 saw me far enough from the duke and others, whom they appre- 

 hended might rescue me, or interrupt them, Lionel called to me by 

 name. The just suspicions I had, would have induced me to ride 

 away and join the duke, but that a sense of honour forbad. Deter- 

 mining to avoid provocation, I gave a friendly reply, and turned my 

 horse to meet them. Instantly they both fell upon me, and with 

 blows and the most opprobrious words, effected their intent pub- 

 licly dishonoured me, in the face of the duke and the whole field; 

 told me, nothing less than my life could repair the injuries I had 

 committed ; and after they had fully perpetrated their purpose, gal- 

 loped off. They saluted the duke, with whom they were acquainted, 

 when they first entered the field ; for they intended that their revenge 

 should be public ; and therefore assiduously made themselves pre- 

 viously known. I also instantly quitted the field. 



The daughters of the duke, with Lady Elizabeth, and other 

 ladies, were of the party, and witnessed my public disgrace. Lady 

 Elizabeth had, indeed, perceived her father and brother her terror 

 was inconceivable and she was quitting the ladies, to come to me, 

 at the moment that they both fell upon me. Her agony of mind de- 

 prived her of sense she fell from her horse but was luckily per- 

 ceived and succoured, without having received any apparent injury 

 by the fall. 



It is to be hoped the world did not at that moment contain three 

 other beings who so ardently gasped for revenge, and thirsted for 

 blood, as myself and those who had so outrageously assaulted me. 

 I rode after them full speed to the town, to which I supposed they 

 were gone ; but my inquiries were fruitless. I know not why, but 

 their desire was, that the horrid scene of vengeance should pass in 

 the environs of London ; and they had so taken their measures, as to 

 render any pursuit of them, for the moment, vain. 



The terrors and dangerous agitation of Lady Elizabeth, induced 

 the duke immediately to assist her in pursuit of me, and, accompanied 

 by that nobleman and his daughter, she arrived at the inn, where I 

 had alighted, just as I returned from making inquiries, hoping to 



obtain information of Lord P and Lionel, or at least of the route 



they had taken. The horrid revenge that lurked in my thoughts, 

 was visible in my countenance : my eyes rolled with a savage frenzy; 

 my features were distorted; my face was scarcely human. Lady 

 Elizabeth had heard me, when entering, order horses immediately 

 for the London road ; and when she saw the fury of my looks, she 

 dropped lifeless from her seat. Had I been provided with the means, 

 should certainly th at moment have ended my life. Perhaps no 



M. M. No. 87. 2 K ^ 



