Part 23 (2/2)

CHAPTER SIXTY

HE RECOMPENSES THE ATTACHMENT OF HIS FRIEND; AND RECEIVES A LETTER THAT REDUCES HIM TO THE VERGE OF DEATH AND DISTRACTION

This step being taken, his mind in some measure retrieved its former tranquillity He soothed himself with the prospect of a happy reconciliation with the divine Monie by the entertaining conversation of his sister, ho, attended by his friend the Major, who had never quitted hi at Brussels Here they found Count Trebasi entirely rid of the fever which had been occasioned by his wound, and in a fair way of doing well; a circumstance that afforded unspeakable pleasure to Melvil, whosewas such, as would have ed himself with the death of his ht have been

The Count's ferocity did not return with his health His eyes were opened by the danger he had incurred, and his sentiments turned in a new channel He heartily asked pardon of Madee she had suffered from the violence of his temper; thanked Renaldo for the seasonable lesson he had ad re, but proffered to make immediate restitution of all the rents which he had unjustly converted to his own use

These things being settled in the most amicable manner, to the entire satisfaction of the parties concerned, as well as of the neighbouring noblesse, a whom the house of Melvil was in universal esteem, Renaldo resolved to solicit leave at the Iate that affair of Moni than all the points he had hitherto adjusted But, before he quitted Presburg, his friend Farrel taking hiive me leave to ask, if, by ood fortune to acquire your esteem?” ”To doubt that esteeratitude and honour, of which I must be utterly destitute before I lose the sense of those obligations I owe to your gallantry and friendshi+p--obligations which I long for a proper occasion to repay”

”Well then,” resuht Swiss, and point out a ation from your own shoulders to mine You know my birth, rank, and expectations in the service; but perhaps you do not know, that, as my expense has always unavoidably exceeded my income, I find myself a little out at elbows in my circumstances, and want to piece them up by matrimony Of those ladies ho, Mademoiselle de Melvil seems the best qualified to render my situation happy in all respects Her fortune is ood sense will be a seasonable check upon e a continuation of affection and regard I know h to think I shall become a hly honoured in being more closely united to my dear Count de Melvil, the son and representative of that worthy officer under whom my youth was formed If you will therefore sanction inthe place to a capitulation”

Renaldo was pleased with the frankness of this declaration, approved of his deood offices with his sister, who the Major to her favour, as a gentleman orthy of her choice

Mademoiselle, who had never been exercised in the coquetries of her sex, and was now arrived at those years when the vanity of youth ought to yield to discretion, considered the proposal as a philosopher, and after due deliberation candidly owned she had no objection to the ly introduced in the character of a lover, after the permission of the Countess had been obtained; and he carried on his addresses in the usual form, so much to the satisfaction of all concerned in the event, that a day was appointed for the celebration of his nuptials, when he entered into peaceable possession of his prize

A few days after this joyful occasion, while Renaldo was at Vienna, where he had been indulged with leave of absence for sixpreparations for his journey to Britain, he was one evening presented by his servant with a package from London, which he no sooner opened, than he found enclosed a letter directed to hi of Moniht of those well-known characters, that he stood er to know the contents, yet afraid to peruse the billet While he hesitated in this suspense, he chanced to cast his eye on the inside of the cover, and perceived the name of his Jewish friend at the botto, that the enclosed was delivered to him by a physician of his acquaintance, who had recommended it in a particular manner to his care

This intimation served only to increase the mystery, and whet his impatience; and as he had the explanation in his hand, he su the seal, began to read these words: ”Renaldo will not suppose that this address proceeds from interested motives, when he learns, that, before it can be presented to his view, the unfortunate Moniht forsook Renaldo's eyes, his knees knocked together, and he fell at full length insensible on the floor His valet, hearing the noise, ran into the aparter for proper assistance, while he himself endeavoured to recall his spirits by such applications as chance afforded But before the Count exhibited any signs of life, his brother-in-law entered his chamber by accident, and as soon as he recollected himself from the extreme confusion and concern produced by this melancholy spectacle, he perceived the fatal epistle, which Melvil, though insensible, still kept within his grasp; justly suspecting this to be the cause of that severe paroxysm, he drew near the couch, and with difficulty read what is above rehearsed, and the sequel, to this effect:--

”Yes, I have taken suchinto your hands, until after I shall have been released frouish It is not my intention, once loved, and ah! still too fondly re hich hath been so long the sole inhabitant of my lonely bosom I will not call you inconstant or unkind I dare not think you base or dishonourable; yet I was abruptly sacrificed to a triumphant rival, before I had learned to bear such mortification; before I had overcome the prejudices which I had imbibed in my father's house I was all at once abandoned to despair, to indigence, and distress, to the vile practices of a villain, who, I fear, hath betrayed us both What have not I suffered frons of that wretch, whom you cherished in your bosooal of peace, where the canker-worm of sorroill expire Beware of that artful traitor; and, oh! endeavour to overcoed, will not only stain your reputation, but also debauch the good qualities of your heart I release you, in the sight of Heaven, fros be visited on the head of Renaldo, for whom shall be offered up the last fervent prayers of the hapless Monimia”

This letter was a clue to the labyrinth of Melvil's distress Though the Major had never heard him mention the name of this beauty, he had received such hints from his oife, as enabled him to comprehend the whole of the Count's disaster By the ad medicines, Renaldo recovered his perception; but this was a cruel alternative, considering the situation of his thoughts The first word he pronounced was Monimia, with all the emphasis of the most violent despair He perused the letter, and poured forth incoherent execrations against Fathom and himself He exclaimed, in a frantic tone, ”She is lost for ever! murdered by my unkindness! We are both undone by the infernal arts of Fathom! execrable monster! Restore her to my arms If thou art not a fiend in reality, I will tear out thy false heart”

So saying, he sprung upon his valet, ould have fallen a sacrifice to his undistinguishi+ng fury, had not he been saved by the interposition of Farrel and the faripe by dint of force; yet, notwithstanding their joint endeavours, he broke fro his sword, attee it in his own breast When he was once more overcome by numbers, he cursed himself, and all those ithheld him; swore he would not survive the fair victim who had perished by his credulity and indiscretion; and the agitation of his spirits increased to such a degree, that he was seized with strong convulsions, which nature was scarce able to sustain Every medical expedient was used to quiet his perturbation, which at length yielded so far as to subside into a continual fever and confir which he ceased not to pour forth thehis ruined love, and to rave about the ill-starred Monimia The Major, half distracted by the calae of his fa of his life, laid hi them acquainted with his condition

The Countess and Mrs Farrel were no sooner informed of his case than they hastened to the melancholy scene, where they found Renaldo deprived of his senses, panting under the rage of an exasperated disease They saw his face distorted, and his eyes glaring with frenzy; they heard him invoke the name of Monimia with a tenderness of accent which even the impulse of madness could not destroy Then, with a sudden transition of tone and gesture, he denounced vengeance against her betrayer, and called upon the north wind to cool the fervour of his brain His hair hung in dishevelled parcels, his cheeks an, his looks ghastly, his vigour was fled, and all the glory of his youth faded; the physician hung his head in silence, the attendants wrung their hands in despair, and the countenance of his friend was bathed in tears

Such a picture would have moved the most obdurate heart; what impression thenwith all the enthusiasm of affection! The rief; the sister threw herself on the bed in a transport of sorrow, caught her loved Renaldo in her arreat difficulty, torn from his embrace Such was the dismal reverse that overtook the late so happy family of Melvil; such was the extremity to which the treachery of Fathom had reduced his best benefactor!

Three days did nature struggle with surprising efforts, and then the constitution seeth di he looked round, and recognised his weeping friends Though now exhausted to the lowest ebb of life, he retained the perfect use of speech, and his reason being quite unclouded, spoke to each with equal kindness and coht of shore after the horrors of such a tempest; called upon the Countess and his sister, ere not per apprised by the Major of his reason for excluding them from his presence, he applauded his concern, bequeathed theentleman with a cordial embrace Then he desired to be left in private with a certain clergy disht, in expectation of his final discharge In a few er heard to breathe, no more the stream of life was perceived to circulate, he was supposed to be absolved froroan froenerous, and tender-hearted Renaldo

”Come hither, ye whom the pride of youth and health, of birth and affluence infla to the fruition of ever-circling joys; ye who glory in your accoe the views of arandeur, contemplate here the vanity of life! behold ho this excellent young man is laid! mowed down even in the blossom of his youth, when fortune seemed to open all her treasures to his worth!”

Such were the reflections of the generous Farrel, hile he perfor the eyes of the much-lamented Melvil, perceived a warmth on the skin, which the hand of death seldouished This uncoh he could feel no pulsation of the heart or arteries, conjectured that life still lingered in some of its interior haunts, and immediately ordered such applications to the extreht help to concentrate and reinforce the natural heat

By these prescriptions, which for some time produced no sensible effect, the e, and the vital power revived, for, after a considerable pause, respiration was gradually renewed at long intervals, a languid ular pulsations were felt at the wrist, the clay-coloured livery of death began to vanish from his face, the circulation acquired new force, and he opened his eyes with a sigh, which proclaimed his return from the shades of death

When he recovered the faculty of sing, a cordial was administered, and whether the fever abated, in consequence of the blood's being cooled and condensed during the recess of action in the solids, or nature, in that agony, had prepared a proper channel for the expulsion of the disease, certain it is, he was from this moment rid of all bodily pain; he retrieved the ani reuor, the effect of nature's being fatigued in the battle she had won

Unutterable was the joy that took possession of his mother and sister when Farrel flew into her apartment to intimate this happy turn Scarce could they be restrained fro forth their transports in the presence of Renaldo, as still too feeble to endure such communication; indeed, he was extremely mortified and dejected at this event, which had diffused such pleasure and satisfaction ah his distemper was mastered, the fatal cause of it still rankled at his heart, and he considered this respite froratulated by the Major on the triuroan, ”I would to heaven it had been otherwise, for I anant sorrow and remorse O Monientle shade, that I was, at least intentionally, innocent of that ruthless barbarity which hath brought thee to an untirave

Heaven and earth! do I still survive the consciousness of that dire catastrophe! and lives the atrocious villain who hath blasted all our hopes!”