“‘To what end,’ thought he, ‘have these strong affections, these capacities of love, this yearning after sympathy, been given me? Unloved and unknown, I walk to my grave, and all the nobler mysteries of my heart are for ever to be untold.’ “Thus musing, he heard not the challenge of the warder on the wall, or the unbarring of the gate below, or the tread of footsteps along the winding stair. “The door was thrown suddenly open, and Sir Charles stood before him. “‘Come,’ he said, in a low voice, trembling with passion, ‘come, I will show thee that which shall gladden thy heart. Twofold is Leoline avenged.’ “Lord Edward Warbeck looked in amazement on a brother he had not met since they stood in arms each against the other’s life. “And he now saw that the arm that Sir Charles extended to him dripped with blood, trickling drop by drop upon the floor. “‘Come,’ said Sir Charles, ‘follow me! It is my last prayer. Come, for Leoline’s sake, come.’ “At that name, Lord Edward Warbeck hesitated no longer; he girded on his sword, and followed his brother down the stairs, and through the castle gate.’ “The porter scarcely believed his eyes when he saw the two brothers, so long divided, go forth at that hour alone, and seemingly in friendship. “Lord Warbeck, arrived at that epoch in the feelings when nothing stuns, followed with silent steps the rapid strides of his brother. “The two castles, as I have told you, were not far from each other. “In a few minutes Sir Charles paused at an open space in one of the terraces on which the moon shone bright and steady. “‘Behold!’ he said, in a ghastly voice, ‘behold!’ “And Lord Warbeck saw on the sward the corpse of Redgill bathed with the blood that even still poured fast and warm from his heart. “‘Hark!’ said Sir Charles. ‘He it was who first made me waver in my vows to Leoline. He persuaded me to wed yon whited falsehood. Hark! He, who had thus wronged my real love, dishonoured me with my faithless bride, and thus—thus—thus’ as, grinding his teeth, he spurned again and again the dead body of Redgill, ‘thus Leoline and myself are avenged!’ “‘And thy wife?’ said Lord Warbeck, pityingly. “‘Fled—fled with a hireling page! It is well! She was not worth the sword that was once belted on—by Leoline!’ “On the very night of his revenge a long delirious illness seized Sir Charles. “The generous Lord Warbeck forgave, forgot all, save that he had been once consecrated by Leoline’s love. “He tended him through his sickness, and, when he recovered, Sir Charles was an altered man. “He foreswore the comrades he had once courted, the revels he had once led. “His halls were desolate. “The only companion Sir Charles sought was Lord Warbeck; and Lord Warbeck bore with him. “They had no subject in common, for on one subject Lord Warbeck at least felt too deeply ever to trust himself to speak. “Yet did a strange and secret sympathy re-unite them. “They had at least a common sorrow.