Each started to his feet at the appearance of this apparition and seized pistols and swords.
"Never fear, friends; I came not to harm you," said Sir Albert, in his mild, gentle, but stern voice.
"You intrude--you disturb us!" cried Cheeseman.

"We want no spy on our deliberations." "Verily, my good man, you speak truly.

These are deliberations at which there must be no spy.

Let no whispering tongue breathe aught of this meeting." His words were so strange, that they stood amazed, gazing at him in wonder.

Drummond at last gasped: "'Fore God, who are you ?" "A man like you," was the answer; "a man no older, yet whom sorrow hath crushed and bowed with premature age; a man with a heart to feel and a brain to think; a man who would willingly exchange places with you, though you stand within the shadow of a scaffold; a man, whose heart--O God!--must speak, or it will break; a friend who loves you, who never wronged any one, but has been made the puppet of outrageous fortune; a man who has more wealth than all Virginia, and yet is poorer than the lowest beggar; a man born to misfortune; a child of sorrow and of tears; one who never loved, but to see the object of his affections blighted or stolen; a man to whom dungeons, chains, slavery, death, hell itself would be heaven compared to what he hath endured; such a poor wretch, my friends, is now before you." He could say no more, but, sinking upon a chair, buried his face in his hands and burst into tears.