Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

heapside, and they proceeded towards Piccadilly on foot. Up to this time the major had been in very high spirits, boasting what he would do, in case they encountered

person greatly resembling Captain Disbrowe alight from it. Mentioning the circumstance to his companion, he pointed out a tall figure following them at some distance; but the other only laughed at him, and sai

. By Bellerophon! that's my way. My only apprehension is lest he should set u

we, major, I am persuad

of honour to stab a

of Tisiphone! I have known an instance of it myself. I once made love to a tailor's wife, and th

azardous intrigues," laughed the knight. "But you proposed just now to keep watc

ered the major, "I have just b

his hour-impossible

ought to say," re

ir like your own. You would no

ld not recollect it til

r inamorata whom she ma

hom you prate so muc

nig

Sir

ill find me worse to deal with than Disbrowe. You must remain at the door till

glances over his shoulder. "I am fairly caught on the horns of a dilemma. I instinctively feel that Disbrowe is dogging us. What will bec

, and threading it, they entered a narrow thoroughfare, called Castle-street. Just as they turned the corner, Pillichody again

the house?" inq

to conceal his trepidation. "It is clos

ment to beat him off. You may affect not to know him, and may tell him t

replied the major,

relish the jest," rejoine

and-ha!-ha!-and Disbrowe is the disappointed lover-capital! But h

ight?" asked Parravicin

llichody. "Don't you see

d the knight. "You are a

ichody. "Thousand thunder

ou have slain Disbrowe, on my return,"

ce my campaigns in the Low Countries, I have been troubl

here you are," replied the

by a powerful arm. He would have roared for aid, but a voice, which he in

he house?" demanded Dis

e," replied the bully. "I did my best to

introduced me to this heartless libertine-you who encouraged me to play with him, telling me I should easily strip him of all he possessed-

tone. "On my soul, you are! I certainly praised your wife (as who would not?),

d Disbrowe, fiercely. "To you I owe al

fficiently already. I would not have your blood on my head. On the honour of a s

o late." And seizing the major's arm, he

ed Pillichody. "Wo

the other's long rapier from his side. "Coward!" he added, striking him with the flat side o

ist; when the other, contriving to extricate himself, ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Disbrowe looked after

," he muttered, drawing his sword,

b. The room was empty, but its furniture and arrangements proclaimed it the favourite retreat of the fair mistress of the abode. Parravicin gazed curiously round, as if anxious to gather from what he saw some idea of the person he so soon expected to encounter. Everything betokened a refined and luxurious t

elvet slippers. A pocket-mirror, or sprunking-glass, as it was then termed, lay on a side-table, and near it stood an embossed silver chocolate-pot, and a small porcelain cup with a golden spoon inside it, showing what t

er, on which a few lines were traced, attracted h

lent headache, which has almost distracted me. I have also been troubled with strange and unaccountable misgivings respectin

RGA

among us, is always preaching. Confound him! I wish he had not mentioned it. A glass of wine may exhilarate me." And pouring out a bumper, he swallowed it at a draught. "And so the fond fool is pining for her husband, and has some misgivings about him. Egad! it is well for her she does not know what has really taken place. She'll learn that soon enough. What's this?

lken robe lying across a chair. Wrapping it round him, and

ore exquisitely, more luxuriously furnished than that he had just quitted. Articles of feminine attire, of the richest kind, were hung against the walls, or disposed on the chairs. O

ing from behind the rich damask curtains o

the lamp, and speaking with a handkerchief at his mo

e rejoined, "and I have been

Meg?" asked Parravicin, approaching the be

eadache about an hour ago. It has left me; but I have a st

joined Parravicin. "Were yo

ur return, you would blame yourself for your absence. You have grown sadl

ht so, Margaret?"

herself in the bed. "I would requit

the curtains, and disclosing himself. "Learn that he loves another, and is with h

Mrs. Disbrowe. "Who are yo

plied the knight. "I am called Sir Paul Parrav

a stranger! It cannot be!" c

atement," rejoined the knight. "Your husband gave me

heard-of baseness-such barbarity?" cri

vicin. "He is tired of you, and has take

ut not hearing her move, brought the lamp to see what was the matter. She had fainted, and was l

expression of horror and alarm took possession of it. He appeared rooted to the spot, and in

ithout pausing for a moment, threw open the street-door. As he issued from it, h

lain," cried Disbrowe, "and s

d Parravicin, shaking off his ass