He had hoped to have managed to conceal, in the bustle of the festivities, his wicked designs, even from the torment of his own heart; but the excited spirit could not do otherwise than think of his absorbing action, which he was to perpetrate; and, until he had done it, the very hours, the very faces, the very dishes, the very exercises, all appeared to him insipid. He could not rest; others laughed at the various oddities of the accomplished Reuben Styles, the buffoon of the day: but he, if he smiled, was so insensible to anything like merriment, that he looked as if he condemned whilst he permitted the frolic of the jester. He answered not the Lady Ellen, but hung down his head in dogged silence, until she called Reuben Styles to her, and, with an air of pleasantry, said-- 'Reuben, look at Abdil Foley, and tell me what is the matter with him.' With vast pomposity and affected knowledge, Reuben sprang forward, seized the hand and beard of the patient, and at once exclaimed: 'Verily, lady, he hath a devil to contend with. He is a black one too--a fiery one also--and I would not be in the same house with him to-night for all the world!' In another moment the fool fell prostrate on the floor, and struck his head, in falling, so forcibly against the column of the balcony which surrounded the hall, that he was stunned to stupefaction and sick, and was forced to be carried out of the merry company into the air. Lord De Freston was angry, and justly accused Abdil of great cruelty to the tolerated and flattered buffoon, whose lot it was seldom to meet with such treatment, as all men took what he said with good-nature. 'Thou hast been severe, Abdil: my daughter will not readily forgive thee for this!' 'I don't care if she don't,' was the uncourteous reply. 'Why didst thou do it?' 'Because the fellow took me by the beard, and told me I had a devil.' 'Of which thou hast given abundant proof in thy devilish deed, in nearly knocking out his brains.' 'Then his brains should be in their proper place.' There was a general dissatisfaction at the conduct of Abdil Foley, both towards the courteous Lady Ellen and her father, and many were the rebuffs which this unhappy man received upon that merry Christmas Day. He took all these things as many infatuated people do--as sufferings for conscience' sake--a strange species of self-deception which a deluded creature, in every age, has called a conscientious suffering. Nothing else, however, than the impious persuasion, and the false oath he had taken to destroy De Freston's mansion, could have worked upon his temper and disposition, so as literally to make him an object of disaffection in the hall of his master. That good man, though he did not approve the behaviour of the mechanic, had he been indeed of a despotic disposition, would have banished him from his associates on that festive occasion, and not have borne with his surliness, and certainly not have begged of others to do the same.