"My lord," I said, "promise me, if you sincerely love me, which I cannot doubt, not to fight with this hot-headed young man." "I promise," he replied, "to do all that a man of honour may, in order to avoid a duel with him." "Then, my lord, I promise, once more in return--if you would care to have such a promise from so poor a creature as myself----" "Kitty! Divine angel!" "I swear, even though you never wed me, to remain single for your sake. And even should you change your mind, and bestow your affections upon another woman, and scorn and loathe me, never to think upon another man." He seized me in his arms, though we were on the open Downs (only there was not a soul within sight, so far as I could see around), and kissed me on the cheeks and lips. "My love!" he murmured; "my sweet and gracious lady!" * * * * * Next, I had to consider what best to do about my prisoner. I begged my lord to go home through the Durdans, while I returned by the road. On the way I resolved to liberate Harry at once, but to make conditions with him. I therefore returned to the doctor's, and asked that I might be allowed to see the prisoner. Dr. Powlett was at first very unwilling. He pointed out, with some justice, that there had not, as yet, been time enough to allow of a colourable pretence at discovering the supposed mistake; a few days, say a fortnight, should elapse, during which the search might be supposed to be a-making; in that interval Harry was to sit chained in his cell, with a strait-waistcoat on. "And believe me," said this kind physician, "he will learn from his imprisonment to admire the many kindnesses and great humanity shown to unhappy persons who are afflicted with the loss of their wits. Besides this, he will have an opportunity of discovering for what moderate charges such persons are received, entertained, and treated with the highest medical skill, at Epsom, by the learned physician, Jonathan Powlett, _Medicinæ Doctor_. He will swallow my pills, drink my potions (which are sovereign in all diseases of the brain), be nourished on my gruel (compounded scientifically with the Epsom water), will be tenderly handled by my keepers, and all for the low charge of four guineas a week, paid in advance, including servants. And he will, when cured (if Providence assist), come out----" "Twice as mad as he went in. No, doctor; that, if you please, was not what I intended. The mischief is averted for the present, and, if you will conduct me to your prisoner, I think I can manage to avert it altogether." Well, finding that there was nothing more to be got out of the case--I am quite sure that he was ready to treat poor Harry as really mad, and to keep him there as long as any money could be got out of him--the doctor gave way, and led me to the room in which lay prisoner Harry.