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"I know well," he muttered, as he walked among the shadow of the ruins, "that Marchdale's reasoning is coldly and horribly correct, when he says that there is danger in setting this youth free; but, I am about to leave this place, and not to show myself for some time, and I cannot reconcile myself to inflicting upon him the horror of a death by starvation, which must ensue."
Perhaps he did not think any one could be so cruel and so wicked as he himself; for the reader will no doubt recollect that his, Marchdale's, counsel to Varney, was to leave Charles Holland to his fate, chained down as he was in the dungeon, and that fate would have been the horrible one of being starved to death in the course of a few days.
Besides, even during that night there were refreshments in the shape of bread and water, such as had been presented to Charles himself, within Marchdale's reach as they had been within his. That individual now, Charles thought, would have a good opportunity of testing the quality of that kind of food, and of finding out what an extremely light diet it was for a strong man to live upon.
"One cannot help one's impression and feelings," said Charles; "but I am willing to take Mr. Marchdale's hand." "And I yours, young sir," said Marchdale, "in all sincerity of spirit, and with good will towards you." They shook hands; but it required no conjuror to perceive that it was not done willingly or cordially.
"Are you sure you had it with you?" Beatrice asked. "Oh, yes, I think I had it with me. I should have missed it before this, if I had left it at home. I must have dropped it in Mr. Marchdale's garden." "In that case it will probably be found," said Beatrice. Peter had gone to Spiaggia, I imagine, in the hope of meeting Mrs.
Although the admiral had said but little concerning the fearful end Marchdale had come to, it really did make some impression upon him; and, much as he held in abhorrence the villany of Marchdale's conduct, he would gladly in his heart have averted the fate from him that he had brought upon himself. On the road to the ruins, he calculated upon taking a different kind of vengeance.
Marchdale's own request, he took him with him, as it was desirable to have a third person present in the sort of business negotiation which was going on.
"Vexatious; and yet, I think it is a matter upon which we ought almost to congratulate ourselves. Read those two letters, and give us your candid opinion upon them." Henry placed in Mr. Marchdale's hands the letter addressed to himself, as well as that to the admiral. Marchdale read them both with marked attention, but he did not exhibit in his countenance so much surprise as regret.
Moreover, his head struck with such violence against the earthern floor, that it produced a temporary confusion of his faculties, so that, had Charles Holland been so inclined, he might, with Marchdale's own weapon, have easily taken his life. The young man did, on the impulse of the moment, raise it in his hand, but, on the impulse of another thought, he cast it from him, exclaiming
He walked to and fro for nearly an hour, until he heard a hasty footstep approaching him, and upon looking in the direction from whence it came, he saw Mr. Marchdale. "I will seek Marchdale's advice," he said, "upon this matter. I will hear what he says concerning it." "Henry," said Marchdale, when he came sufficiently near to him for conversation, "why do you remain here alone?"
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