THE MASTIFF. 121 



Prevention of robbery and murder. 



rageous mastiff, roared for assistance. It was 

 found to be the favourite valet, who little ex- 

 pected such a reception. He endeavoured to apo- 

 logise for his intrusion, and to make the reasons 

 which induced him to take this step appear plau- 

 sible; but the importunity of the dog, the time, 

 the place, the manner of the valet raised suspi- 

 cions in Sir Harry's mind ; and he determined 

 to refer the investigation of the business to a 

 magistrate. 



The perfidious Italian, alternately terrified b 

 the dread of punishment, and soothed by the 

 hopes of pardon, at length confessed that it was 

 his intention to murder his master, and then rob 

 the house. This diabolical design was frustrated 

 solely by the instinctive attachment of the dog 

 to his master, which seemed to have been direct- 

 ed, on this occasion, by an interference of Pro- 

 vidence. How else could he have learned to 

 submit to injury and insult, for his well-meant 

 services, and finally to seize and detain a person, 

 who, it is probable, had shown him more kind- 

 ness than his owner had ever done? A full length 

 picture of Sir Harry, with the mastiff by his side, 

 and the words, " More faithful than favoured* 

 is still preserved among the family pictures. 



