where Aliaga, stupified with horror, stood beside the bodies of his son and daughter. “Wretched old man!” he exclaimed, looking on him as the unhappy father strained his glazing and dilated eyes to see who spoke to him, and at length with difficulty recognized the form of _the stranger_--the companion of his fearful journey some months past--“Wretched old man--you were warned--but you neglected the warning--I adjured you to save your daughter--_I best_ knew her danger--you saved your gold--now estimate the value of the dross you grasped, and the precious ore you dropt! _I stood between myself and her_--I warned--I menaced--it was not for me to intreat. Wretched old man--see the result!”--and he turned slowly to depart. An involuntary sound of execration and horror, half a howl and half a hiss, pursued his parting steps, and the priest, with a dignity that more became his profession than his character, exclaimed aloud, “Depart accursed, and trouble us not--go, cursing and to curse.”--“I go conquering and to conquer,” answered Melmoth with wild and fierce triumph--“wretches! your vices, your passions, and your weaknesses, make you my victims. Upbraid yourselves, and not me. Heroes in your guilt, but cowards in your despair, you would kneel at my feet for the terrible immunity with which I pass through you at this moment.--I go accursed of every human heart, yet untouched by one human hand!”--As he retired slowly, the murmur of suppressed but instinctive and irrepressible horror and hatred burst from the groupe. He past on scowling at them like a lion on a pack of bayed hounds, and departed unmolested--unassayed--no weapon was drawn--no arm was lifted--the mark was on his brow,--and those who could read it knew that all human power was alike forceless and needless,--and those who could not succumbed in passive horror. Every sword was in its sheath as Melmoth quitted the garden. “Leave him to God!”--was the universal exclamation. “You could not leave him in worse hands,” exclaimed Fra Jose--“He will certainly be damned--and--that is some comfort to this afflicted family.” CHAPTER XXXVI. Nunc animum pietas, et materna nomina frangunt.