"And now, my good friend," continued our hero, "I must speak to you as if I were making my last will and testament; for heaven alone knows whether I shall ever quit this country alive. You remember the secret of my affection for a noble lady, which I communicated to you the night before we landed on the Castelcicalan coast?" "Not a syllable of what you told me, sir, has been effaced from my memory," replied Morcar. "You enjoined me that, if any thing fatal should occur to yourself, and Providence should enable me to return to England, I was to seek the Princess Isabella, and break to her the tidings and manner of your death, with the assurance that your last thoughts were given to her!" "Such was my request, Morcar," said Richard. "I need now observe little more than repeat it. Let the one who reaches Naples first wait for the other fifteen days; and, if he come not by the expiration of that period, then let him——" "Surmise the worst," added Morcar, seeing that our hero hesitated. "Your message to the Princess shall be delivered—if God ordain that so sad a result ensues. And, on your part, sir—if I come not to the place of appointment, and you succeed in reaching it——" "Say no more, my dear friend," interrupted Markham, pressing the gipsy's hand; "we understand each other!" And they each dashed away the tears from their eyes. Richard then divided the contents of his purse into two equal portions, and presented one to Morcar. The gipsy positively refused to accept any thing beyond a few pieces of gold; but Markham was more positive still, and compelled him to assent to the equitable partition of the large sum which Eliza's bounty had supplied. They then retired to rest. At day-break Markham started up; but he looked in vain for Morcar. On the table stood a pile of gold: it was the one which our hero had forced upon the gipsy;—and only two of the pieces had been taken from the heap. "Generous man;" cried Markham: "God grant that I may one day be enabled to reward him for his fidelity and devotion to me!" Having hastily dressed himself, our hero concealed about his person the few necessaries that were indispensable, and left the remainder in his valise. He then descended to the coffee-room, hurried over a slight refreshment, and, having settled the account, took his departure, telling the landlord to keep the valise for him until his return. But now how lonely, forlorn, and friendless did he feel, as he hurried away from the inn where he had parted with his faithful dependant! CHAPTER CLXXIX. THE JOURNEY. Richard Markham struck into the fields, and pursued his way in a southerly direction. He avoided even the small hamlets, and kept as much as possible in the open country.