Lord St.Eval listened, as if fascinated by the very torture he endured.

They were quite alone, and after a few such observations, the Viscount lowered his voice to a confidential tone, and said, triumphantly-- "Will you envy me, St.Eval, if I confess that I, more than any other man, am privileged to speak in Miss Hamilton's praise, having once had the honour of being her accepted lover, and had not cruel parents interfered, might now have claimed that lovely creature as my own?
but still I do not despair, for the affections of a being so superior once given to me, as they have been, I am convinced they will never be another's.

I am treating you as a friend, St.Eval, you will not betray me ?" "You may trust me, sir," replied the young Earl, coldly.

"Your confidence has been given unasked, but you need not fear its betrayal." "Thank you, my kind friend;" and the wily villain continued his deceiving tale, with an eloquence we will not trouble ourselves to repeat.

It is enough to know its effect on St.Eval was to turn him from the room, his sensitive feelings wrought almost to madness by malignant bitterness.