"I feel deeply indebted to you for your kindness," exclaimed Markham: "very--very grateful!" "Grateful!" cried the old man, somewhat bitterly. "Oh! how I dislike that word! The enemies who persecute me now, are those who have received the greatest favours from me. But there is one--one whose treachery and base ingratitude I never can forget--although I can forgive him! Almost four years ago, I accidentally learnt that a young man of pleasing appearance, genteel manners, and good acquirements, was in a state of the deepest distress, in an obscure lodging in Hoxton Old Town. I called upon him: the account which had reached my ears was too true. He was bordering upon starvation; and--although he assured me that he had relations and friends moving in a wealthy sphere--he declared that particular reasons, which he implored me not to dive into, compelled him to refrain from addressing them. I relieved his necessities; I gave him money, and procured him clothes. I then took him as my private secretary, and soon put the greatest confidence in him. Alas! how was I recompensed? He betrayed all my political secrets to the government: he literally sold me! At length he absconded, taking with him a considerable sum of money, which he abstracted from my desk." "How despicable!" ejaculated Richard. "That is not all, I met him afterwards, and forgave him!" said Armstrong. "Ah! you possess, sir, a noble heart," cried Richard: "I hope that this misguided young man gave sincere proofs of repentance!" "Oh! he was very grateful!" ejaculated Mr. Armstrong, with a satirical smile: "when he heard that there was a warrant issued for my apprehension, upon a charge of libel on the government, he secretly instructed the officers relative to my private haunts, and thus sold me again!" "The villain!" cried Markham, with unfeigned indignation. "Tell me his name, that I may avoid him as I would a poisonous viper!" "His name is George Montague," returned Mr. Armstrong. "George Montague!" cried Richard. "Do you know him? have you heard of him before? If you happen to be aware of his present abode--" "You would send and have him arrested for the robbery of the money in your desk?" "No--write and assure him of my forgiveness once more," replied the noble-hearted republican. "But how came you acquainted with his name?" "I have heard of that young man before, but not in a way to do him honour. A tale of robbery and seduction--of heartless cruelty and vile deceit--has been communicated to me relative to this George Montague. Can you forgive such a wretch as he is?' "From the bottom of my heart," answered the republican.