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fast asleep, and Jacome sending word he was quite refreshed, was summoned into the presence of Lord Rossmore and Amelrosa, who made him sit down, as he was tired with his journey, and informed him, he might mention whatever he had to say before the gentleman, for he was nearly related to her. "That I could have sworn, lady," retorted Jacome, "from the likeness you bear to him," and proceeded.

"Were I not well acquainted with your gentle and humane heart, lady, I should be afraid to impart the crimes of which I have been guilty, fearful you would deliver me up to justice: but on the other hand, being committed against my own. inclination, I trust to your goodness to make some allowance for a misguided ..... About six years ago, lady, my mother myself (my father being dead who,!... a boy) lived together appare.; comfort; but I was then of a

, got into debt. ...

many imprudent actions unknown to my mother, which kept me in constant fear lest it should reach her ears, and nearly break her heart, as she always thought well of me, and used to boast to all her neighbours what a good son I was; therefore it would have been a dreadful blow to her in her old age, to be turned out of doors and have all her property sold to pay my debts, which I every day expected. This was the more shocking, as we lived in a creditable manner, and our dwelling was not many miles distant from the forest of Arvilla, where knowing there was plenty of game, and being fond of shooting, I took my gun one day and set off for the forest, to divert by employment, my miserable reflections. Striking into a remote part of it, and hearing something rustle among the leaves in a deep tangled thorny brake, supposing in this retired spot it must be a wolf, or some large bird, without a moment's consideration I fired. A groan immediately forlowed, that filled me with horror, and rush

ing forwards, by breaking my way through the bushes, I beheld a gentleman richly dressed, lying on the ground without life, for the ball I found afterwards had pierced his heart. Sensations of pity, terror, and remorse, though my depriving him of life was unintentional, overwhelmed me for some moments at this horrid spectacle ;but base thoughts, caused by my poverty and distress, afterwards entered my head. Judging from the richness of his dress, he was some person of distinction, while I wondered at his being alone in such a place, I concluded, he had most probably, some valuables about him, and determined to release myself from the embarrassments that perplexed me, by searching him and taking possession of whatever he had about him. Trembling, however, I examined the body, pulled a diamond ring from his finger, and rifling his pockets, discovered a purse of gold and a valuable watch. Eagerly engaged in securing these articles and making a further examination, I found

myself

myself suddenly seized roughly by the arm, and looking up, stunned with fright, saw two ill-favored fellows that instantly secured me, and from their arms, and the dress they wore, immediately concluded. they were banditti, having often heard them described, but always had the good luck never to meet them. They conducted me directly to the interior of the forest, where a body of men were assembled, habited in the same dress, and led me to one, whom they styled their Captain, acquainting him at the same time, with the cir cumstance of having found me plundering the newly murdered corpse of a gentleman, who had just escaped out of their hands, after they had killed his servant, and from every appearance, judged I had destroyedhim, having been attracted to the spot where they had discovered me by the report of the gun I had fired. The Captain now questioned me on the subject, which I solemnly assured him, happened as it actually did, alledging that my distress alone

could

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