The duke started back:—he would have denied him his presence. It was too late:—Glenarvon was already in the room. The cold dews stood upon his forehead; his eye was fixed; his air was wild. “I am come to restore your son,” he said, addressing the duke. “Are you prepared for my visit? Has Lady Margaret obeyed my command, and confessed?” “I thought,” said the duke, “that you had left Ireland. For your presence at this moment, my lord, I was not prepared.” “Whom does Lady Margaret accuse?” said Lord Glenarvon tremulously. “One whom I know not,” said the duke—“Viviani.” Glenarvon’s countenance changed, as with a look of exultation and malice he repeated:—“Yes, it is Viviani.” He then briefly stated that Count Gondimar, having accompanied Lady Margaret from Italy to Ireland in the year —— had concealed under a variety of disguises a young Italian, by name Viviani. To him the charge of murdering the heir of Delaval was assigned; but he disdained an act so horrible and base. La Crusca, a wretch trained in Viviani’s service, could answer for himself as to the means he took to deceive the family. Lord Glenarvon knew nothing of his proceedings: he alone knew, he said, that the real Marquis of Delaval was taken to Italy, whence Gondimar, by order of Viviani some years afterwards, brought him to England, presenting him to Lady Avondale as her page. In corroboration of these facts, he was ready to appeal to Gondimar, and some others, who knew of the transaction. Gondimar, however, Lord Glenarvon acknowledged, was but a partial witness, having been kept in ignorance as to the material part of this affair, and having been informed by Lady Margaret that Zerbellini, the page, was in reality her son. It was upon this account that, in the spring of the year, suddenly mistrusting Viviani, Lady Margaret entreated Count Gondimar to take the boy back with him to Italy; and not being able to succeed in her stratagems, on account of himself (Glenarvon) being watchful of her, she had basely worked upon the child’s feelings, making him suppose he was serving Calantha by hiding her necklace from his (Lord Glenarvon’s) pursuit. On which false accusation of theft, they had got the boy sent from the castle.