ONE ROGUE THE LESS IN PARIS. 183 



fervent, deep attachment. " Oil ! Emily," lie would exclaim, 

 " I am, indeed, unworthy your love and anxious care ; but 

 should my life be spared, I will endeavour to make some 

 amends for the injury I have done you, in taking you from 

 all your friends to link your fate with such a monster as 

 myself." 



" Oh, speak not thus, dearest Richard ; you are all, every- 

 thing to me ; my father and mother have never loved me as 

 you do." 



" Well, poor child, I must try hard to recover now, for your 

 dear sake, and repay you for all your gentle, loving attentions." 

 Vernon was soothed and gratified by her unceasing attendance 

 and endearing regard to every little comfort it was in her power 

 to bestow, which greatly tended to his recovery, and he was 

 soon permitted to sit up in his easy chair for a few hours during 

 the da} r . Lord Vancourt, being apprised of the issue of the, 

 duel, called several times at Vernon's lodgings ; and having 

 on the third day met the doctors there, and been told that 

 his case Avas hopeless, he immediately left Paris, dreading to 

 be implicated in the affair, which was communicated to Vernon 

 by Fitzgerald ; and also that he had learnt from the Count's 

 friend some additional information as to Lord Vancourt's 

 putting the Count up to his tricks at play, and inciting him 

 to challenge Vernon. Fitzgerald also hinted at the necessity 

 of Vernon's applying to his friends for pecuniary assistance, 

 as the tradesmen with whom he dealt, on hearing the cause 

 of the duel, had refused to supply more goods, and were 

 clamorous for their little accounts being settled. " I have 

 done as much as I can to assist j^ou, Mr. Vernon," added 

 Fitzgerald, " more, I must confess, out of regard to your wife's 

 wretched position ; but now, as you are so far recovered, your 

 own exertions are absolutely necessary to prevent her being 

 left in a state of utter destitution ; as, unknown to you, she 

 wrote to her mother for pity and aid in her forlorn situation, 

 to which no answer has been received." 



Vernon, feeling grateful for Fitzgerald's kindness, made a 

 full confession of his past delinquencies and Lord Vancourt's 

 refusal to pay the money he promised for his assistance in the 

 plot to carry off the heiress. 



" It was a rascally business, Mr. Vernon," re; >Ued Fitzgerald , 

 "and I must say you have only reaped your desert i far aiding 

 to ruin a young, defenceless girl by throwing her into the 

 power of such a scoundrel, who, by your own account, is 



