There was one place, however, where he resolved to pay his immediate respects, and for which no hint of card-leaving was necessary. This call was of course on the daughter of the late Mr. Martindale. Under present circumstances, such call was absolutely necessary; it was also to himself highly and truly agreeable. He had not forgotten, nor could he well forget Clara Rivolta. He was quite uncertain what place he now held in her esteem; he knew not what might be the effect of attempting to renew the acquaintance; and Markham was quite as delicate and fastidious in affairs of the heart as in affairs of the purse. He recollected also the stern-looking Father Martini, and he thought of the force of bigotry and fanaticism, and of the power which superstition has over many minds otherwise intelligent, rational, and amiable. There was in his mind also the thought that so far as pecuniary matters were concerned, there was not now that objection which formerly there had been; and he thought also that Dr. Crack had taken Miss Henderson away from amongst the obstacles, and that Mr. Tippetson had very effectually disposed of himself: there remained therefore but one impediment, but that one might be insuperable. Markham found the mother and daughter together as usual. But notwithstanding his previous determination to observe as accurately and attentively as possible the looks and manners of Clara and her mother, so as to draw some decisive inferences from them, he found himself too deeply interested and too much agitated to make any thing like a satisfactory observation. These ladies had of course heard something of the rumors which were so loudly and widely circulated respecting Markham’s good fortune; but they were not by any means aware of the extent of Mr. Martindale’s property; he might for aught they knew have left behind him fifty times the amount attributed to him. They would not, however, and could not believe the dirty insinuations that Markham had endeavoured, and but too successfully, to induce the old gentleman to bequeath to him an unreasonable and enormous share of his wealth. Signora Rivolta knew, or fancied she knew, Markham’s character too well to imagine it possible that he should have been guilty of any thing like meanness. In the language also of the letter which he had written to her on examining into the affairs of the deceased, there was obviously a strong and clear feeling of sincerity. The daughter of the late Mr. Martindale therefore received the executor and residuary-legatee with great cordiality, and the manners of confidence and friendship.