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fully intended to have claimed your protection, and confided to you all I knew; for I had heard whispers of secret passages,' and 'sudden escape,' betwixt Lamska and the bailiff, who cast upon me looks that made me tremble for my own life. Ah! what misery should I have escaped, had I taken that resolution sooner! I should not now have to lament that I am

Here Berenice drooped her head with confusion; her tongue had gone farther than she intended, and Harolde finished the sentence-" The wife of another,' you would have added; and if you have cause to lament it, how much more have I? But there is a remedy, and we may yet be blessed, without being guilty."

Saying this, he respectfully kissed her hand, which drawing across her eyes, she proceeded

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proceeded" It would be gross affectation, were I to deny that I perceived I had created an interest in your heart; and I candidly own, I indulged in sentiments towards you I had never before or since felt for any other man. No sooner were you gone on board, than Bernardo advanced towards me with a stern air, whilst Lamska and the bailiff loaded themselves with the boxes of treasure-"

CHAP.

Appearance of a British officer-he stays dinner-nearly exposes Harolde's amour at Malta.-A trip to the garrison.-Berenice finds a son of Demetrius, an officer in the Greek infantrysigns a deed of gift of all her property at Lernicah to his father, whose fortunes have fallen to decay.-Death of the old Bashaw. A barrel of " Whitbread's entire" giving entire satisfaction to the company.-Captain Styles reluctantly introduced.-Harolde's reception of him.-A dance with the natives, and a friendly supper.-Remarks.-Old Styles appointed Harolde's steward.-Harolde's anxiety to preserve his reputation. -Scene changes to a palace in St. Mark's Place at Venice.-Harolde's habits.-The Count proves a debauchee and a bad husband.-State of society and manners.-Harolde's charities -he

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-he superintends the child St. Florian's education-remove across the Adriatic to a country house.-Berenice again resumes her narrative-the manner she was forced up a subterraneous passage at Lampedosa by Bernardo-locked down in the vessel's cabin-a battle-her dreadful state of agitation— is removed on board a corsair of Estora-her treatment by the barbarians-near Estora are boarded by a vessel, having on board the Sardinian Ambassador-she is ransomed by Count St. Florian, and taken to Cagliari.

THE narrative of suffering innocence was here interrupted by the Count's arrival, in company with a British officer, leading his horse by the bridle: he let him loose to graze, and with true military frankness, bowed to the Countess, and unintroduced, addressed himself to Harolde; he was, he said, the commanding officer, stationed at Fort Ithaca; and that day he had returned from assisting to quell an insurrection in the isle of Santa Maura. Learning from his officers that a British nobleman had been shipwrecked, and resided somewhere

where near the fisherman's cove, he had lost no time in hastening to offer his services, and was highly displeased his officers had not preceded him in exercising the rites of hospitality. He had met the Count in his way, and from him learnt how they were accommodated, which was as well perhaps as they could be in the Castle, where he, however, hoped to be frequently honoured with their company, whilst they remained on the island.

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Harolde and the Count both promised "to beat up his quarters," and pressed him to stay dinner, which was served under a canopy before the house, Harolde's servant taking special care to treat them with Yorkshire pudding and roast beef.

The Colonel, whose title and decorations denoted that he was esteemed in his profession,

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