"Oh, the man I had loved as a friend; the man whom I myself helped to make known to Trevanion,--Vivian, Vivian!" "Vivian! Ah, the youth I have heard you speak of! But how? Villany to whom,--to Trevanion?" "You torture me with your questions. Listen: this Vivian (I know him), --he has introduced into the house, as a servant, an agent capable of any trick and fraud; that servant has aided him to win over her maid,-- Fanny's--Miss Trevanion's. Miss Trevanion is an heiress, Vivian an adventurer. My head swims round; I cannot explain now. Ha! I will write a line to Lord Castleton,--tell him my fears and suspicions; he will follow us, I know, or do what is best." I drew ink and paper towards me and wrote hastily. My uncle came round and looked over my shoulder. Suddenly he exclaimed, seizing my arm: "Gower, Gower! What name is this? You said Vivian." "Vivian or Gower,--the same person." My uncle hurried out of the room. It was natural that he should leave me to make our joint and brief preparations for departure. I finished my letter, sealed it, and when, five minutes afterwards, the chaise came to the door, I gave it to the hostler who accompanied the horses, with injunctions to deliver it forthwith to Lord Castleton himself. My uncle now descended, and stepped from the threshold with a firm stride. "Comfort yourself," he said, as he entered the chaise, into which I had already thrown myself. "We may be mistaken yet." "Mistaken! You do not know this young man. He has every quality that could entangle a girl like Fanny, and not, I fear, one sentiment of honor that would stand in the way of his ambition. I judge him now as by a revelation--too late--Oh Heavens, if it be too late!" A groan broke from Roland's lips. I heard in it a proof of his sympathy with my emotion, and grasped his hand, it was as cold as the hand of the dead.