"My God! what do you want of me? what can I do for you?" exclaimed Richard, uncertain how to act, and his mind a prey to the most painful emotions; for he already fancied that he saw himself exposed--banished from the count's hospitable roof--separated from Isabella, without a chance of reconciliation--and reproached for having intruded himself upon the society of a virtuous and untainted family. The mere anticipation of such an afflicting series of incidents was more than he could bear; and he was prepared to make any sacrifices to avert so terrible an occurrence. "I may obtain from your fears what I should not have got from your generosity," exclaimed the Resurrection Man: "but it doesn't matter what motive produces it, so long as I get it." "And what is it that you require?" asked Richard hastily. "But let us walk aside--they may see us from the windows." "And what do I care it they do?" brutally demanded the Resurrection Man. "I suppose I shan't suffer in character by talking to a companion in former misfortunes?" he added, in a sarcastic tone. There was something peculiarly revolting about that man;--his death-like countenance, jet-black whiskers, shaggy brows, averted glances, and horrible nick-name, all combined to render him a loathsome and disgusting object. The contact of such a wretch was like plunging one's hand amidst the spawn of toads. But the savage irony of this monster--oh! that was utterly intolerable. Richard writhed beneath it. "Now I tell you what it is," said the Resurrection Man, who probably by this time saw that he had reduced the young man to a pliability suitable to his purposes; "if you will only be civil I'll accommodate you to the utmost of my power. Let us walk away from the house--we can then talk more at our ease." Richard accompanied the miscreant a short distance; and then they again stopped, but no longer within view of the count's residence. "You can, doubtless, suppose what I want!" said the Resurrection Man, turning suddenly round upon Markham, and looking him full in the face for the first time. "Money, I presume," replied Richard. "Yes--money. I know that you were in expectation of a great fortune when you were in Newgate; and I suppose you have not run through it all yet." "I was almost totally ruined, during my imprisonment, by the unfortunate speculations in which my guardian engaged," answered Markham mournfully. "That's all my eye! Nevertheless, I won't be hard upon you: I know that you have got a splendid house and a grand estate close by----" "A few acres of land, as heaven is my witness!" "Well--you may try it on as much as you like; but I tell you plainly it won't do for me. Let us cut this matter devilish short, and come to some understanding at once. I am hard up--I don't know what to turn my hand to for a moment; and I can't get orders for the stiff'uns as I used to do."