calling he professes; like the serpent of old, comes forth in an hour when he is least expected, and assails the peace, and destroys the repose of young and smiling innocence and beauty, under the pretence of preaching piety, under the influence and inspiration of a divine spirit! But were I the Lord Albino, I would make the wily serpent cast his skin, and drop the mask which cannot long avail him. Young Ferdinand, thou lookest shocked and surprised at the freedom of my speech, with regard to the Cardinal Benvolio! but didst thou know what I do concerning that saintly hypocrite, thou wouldst not wonder at the sentiments I feel towards such a man; and that I feel indignant also, in the absence of my dear, worthy master, at the severity they have used to his lovely daughter, the interesting Augustina. Such was then the agitation of Aubigny, that he rested his elbow on the table, and burst into an agony of tears, which, I confessed, much shocked and subdued my feelings; for I thought that no man could be so powerfully affected, without having some just cause for his emotions and being young and inexperienced, I felt that tender compassion and sympathizing concern that youth is always prone to, before the world has corrupted their morals and their principles; and I used every persuasive and consoling means in my power to calm the agitation of his spirits, which, I confess, appeared to me to arise from some extraordinary and mysterious cause, or probably to secret injury done him by the Cardinal Benvolio, which he had no power to resent; because Aubigny was avowedly one of the most intelligent and well educated men I had ever conversed with, and his manners were truly those of the most accomplished gentleman; he had likewise an inherent abhorrence of all that was dishonourable or unjust. Some reason therefore he must have, to have so openly and publicly have declared his sentiments of the character of the Cardinal Benvolio : but, not appearing to remark to him what were my conjectures, much less wishing to pry into his secrets, I prevailed with him to sit down and partake of some refreshment, and to beg that he would compose himself; but he arose, and wishing me good-night, abrubtly left me, saying that he had no appetite, and felt too discomposed to enjoy my society; that there was a necessity for his immediately quitting the castle sf St. Clair; but he assured me that he would see me at an early hour the ensuing morning. In the mean time, dear Ferdinand, I thank you for the kind and soothing attention you have shown towards me,' added he, extending his hand towards me with the most cordial affection: when I am more composed, Ferdinand, I will disclose to you what ostensible cause I have for the prejudices I have conceived against Cardinal Benvolio ; which when you have heard, and freely digested, you will stand horror-struck that such are the crimes of a man at this moment placed in high authority at the head of the church, the idol of a blind, credulous, and infatuated world; and supported in honours, exalted to eminence, and distinguished by the confidence and friendship of the illustrious great ones. Such is prejudice, and such is fashion, and such is refinement, when aided by the powerful influence of eloquence, and a pleasing external, formed to captivate while it destroys.' Left wholly to my own reflections, at the departure of Aubigny, which, to say truly, were none of the most pleasing kind: I had at some moments, unconscious to myself, heaved the most melancholy and mournful sighs; for I felt my spirits depressed from witnessing the extreme agitation of my amiable friend, whom I thought, from some mysterious cause or other, had been rendered unhappy by some private injury, inflicted on his feelings by the Cardinal Benvolio and while I was occupied, nay, totally absorbed, with contemplation of so painful a nature, I had forgot that my attendant, Marco, was still in the apartment, and was silently and scrupulously observing my emotions and quickly recovering my self-possession, and assuming my wonted composure, I bid him remove the supper things from the table, as I had no appetite or relish for the delicacies which he had so obligingly set before me after which, he might retire, as I felt weary, and would go to bed. No sooner had I given him these orders, which I always did in a manner that proved, that I had a sense of my humble station; and that I had never once forgotten that I was a dependant only on the bounty of his illustrious master, than the poor fellow, surveying my agitated looks with peculiar sympathy and kindness, exclaimed, 'And so because Mr. Aubigny does not choose to partake of a good hot supper, when it is placed before him, he must needs deprive you of enjoying it, besides making you uncomfortable by his megrims and his vapours; you, that have no more to do with his concerns in this castle, than I have, who am nothing more than a poor servant, living on the wages of honest industry and hard labour; but I should think it a still harder case, sir, if I was a young gentleman like you, if I could not take my meals in peace and quietness: there is my good lord, sir, never takes upon him half so much, I can assure you; and it was well for Mr. Aubigny, that he was not here, to see the airs that he gave himself in your apartment, when, like the dog in the manger, not being able to eat the hay himself, he must needs prevent others from tasting of it, with a murrain to him and his crabbed humours! It is enough to make a saint speak, to see how he has put upon you; and if I was you, Mr. Ferdinand' Here Marco made a full stop, probably to take a moment's breath, which he appeared to have lost much of, during this' long oration; but it had given me full time to deliberate on what reply I should make to it, with the 'propriety and decorum it was necessary for me to adopt to all the domestics in the castle of St. Clair; and answered him thus: : 'My good fellow, were you me, you would most probably do as I intend to do, not to intermeddle with the business of those, who do not concern my personal' interest or my happiness: it is true that I have nothing to do with Mr. Aubigny's private grief or sorrow, or with the mysteries of St. Clair,-being but a dependant on the bounty of its illustrious lord; but I cannot see that human being miserable or unhappy, with a heart of apathy or cold indifference towards them; without endeavouring to alleviate his sufferings, by offering every condolence that sympathy can afford, although I by no means wish to inquire into the cause of them besides, Mr. Aubigny is my tutor, my instructor, and my friend,-placed over me by my kind |