“Accompanied by La Crusca, I returned first to England and then to Ireland. I sought Count Gondimar; but he evaded my enquiries; and having taken the child from me, insisted upon my silence, and dispatched me to Ireland with letters for the Lord Glenarvon, who immediately recognized and received me.” “Where?” cried the duke. Macpherson hesitated.—“At the priory, where he then resided, and where he remained concealed: La Crusca was likewise permitted to dwell there; but of this story my lord was ignorant till now.” “That is false,” said the duke. “One morning La Crusca beheld Lady Margaret even as in a vision, on that spot to which I every day returned; but he had not power to speak. Madness, phrenzy had fallen on him. Lord Glenarvon protected him. His house was also my only refuge. He gathered from me much of the truth of what I have related, but I never told him all. I durst not speak till now. He was deeply moved with the wrongs of the injured boy; he vowed to revenge them; but he has forgotten his promise; he has left us, he has forsaken us. I am now in the service of another: this gentleman will befriend me; and the Duke of Altamonte will not turn from the voice of his miserable servant.” “Where?” said the duke starting, “where did you say Viviani, that damned Italian, had once concealed the child? He is there now perhaps! there, there let us seek him.”—“In the chapel,” said Macpherson hesitating, “there is a vault, of which he retains the key; and there is a chamber in the ruined turret, where I have ofttimes passed the night.” “Let us hasten there this instant,” said the duke.—“What hour is it?” “Nine.” “Oh! that it may not be too late! that he may not already have taken advantage of the darkness of evening to escape!” Saying this, the duke and Colonel de Ruthven having previously given orders to the servants to watch Macpherson carefully, drove with all possible haste to the chapel, near the Abbey of Belfont. But still they hoped that Viviani was their friend—He could have no motive in concealing the child: his only wish was probably to restore him, and by this means make terms for himself. With such thoughts they proceeded to the appointed spot. And it is there that for some moments we must leave them. The duke was convinced in his own mind who his real and sole enemy was; he was also firmly resolved not to let him escape. CHAPTER CI.