did no fear arise, or 'midst the sombre grey of twilight people the lowering gloom. Surrounded by a phalanx of friends, Louisine forgot the persevering, the inve terate malice of Vermandois; nor, save her newly-discovered brother, felt that the universe contained one soul beyond. Suddenly that soft, that soul-soothing calm was broken-suddenly the deeptoned bell at the abbey-gate, followed by the quick tread of the domestics, announced some new arrival. "It is our friend!-our cousin! our deliverer!-it is Theodore!" exclaimed the count de Montelioné, gazing from the window; and instantly he fled the apartment, and hastened to the gate. There, with the delicacy of true interest, he unfolded the new and tender tie which existed; M 3 existed; and conducting father Betsolin and our hero to the saloon, beheld, with rapturous exultation, the spontaneous flow of affection, the strong union of nature, in the dear, the acknowledged ties of brother and of sister. CHAP. XI. Virtue does still RowE. With scorn the mercenary world regard, Where abject souls do good, and hope reward. Above the worthless trophies man can raise, She seeks not honour, wealth, or airy praise, But with herself, herself the goddess pays. To pursue the steps of each several character, to minute the joy and exultation which attends ever the overthrow of villany, and the triumph of virtue, would, without encreasing the interest, be a weighty weighty tax upon the patience of my readers, by swelling the Confessional of Valombre to a size far beyond its limitation. Thinking it then immaterial to state the tedious process of judicatory proceedings, the evidence of Du Plessis, the penitent Lamballe, &c. &c. with the examinations of the confessions of Moutauban, and the wretched Ermissende, better known as the sister Laurette of the convent of Bena Copia, I shall cursorily observe, that the validity of the orphan Theodore, and his sister Louisine, the long-supposed daughter of Du Plessis, being fully substantiated, they became invested in all the possessions and digni ties of their illustrious name; and that a formal denouncement being framed, a warrant was issued for the apprehension of the murderer and usurper MontbelM 4 liard hard. But justice, at least in this world, exerted not its retributive powers: fear gave wings to flight; and scarce had the busy whispers of report circulated the surprise and seizure of the banditti, when, self-convicted, dreading pursuit, and picturing in every copse a foe, Montbelliard absconded from his villa, and eager to ensure his safety by a removal from France, fled to the nearest seaport, for the purpose of embarking for some foreign land; but destruction; the sure, the inevitable result of villany, quick pursued, and snatched from him even the salutary aid of transient repentance. Scarce had the boat receded from the rocky coast-scarce had it reached the fast-moored vessel, when shouts, and quick succeeding signals from the shore, augured some new delay. Doubts arose, save save in the frenzied mind of Montbelliard; there, armed with power, were the emissaries of justice stationed, and already, in fancy, did he behold the chains which awaited to shackle, and the dungeon to receive him. Mercy held forth no gladsome ray, for mercy his own heart's atrocity had never shown. But when again the shouts more loud resounded, with maddened start he sprung to mount the vessel's towering side; but in his eager haste he missed his hold, and plunged amid the flood: the waves closed over him the rope in vain was thrown-he rose no more. Alas! how lost that wretch, whose life, with hydra fears, guilt peoples, whose future years, from the reflective past, wears but the thick, the impervious gloom of dire dismay, and appalling retribution! M. 5 Montbelliard, stung |