I did so:
I got a mask, and took him away with me on the pretence of bringin' him
to see a puppet-show. Well, he disappeared, and your mind, I suppose,
was aisy. I tould you all was right, and every year from that to this
you have paid me a pension of fifty pounds."
"The man is mad, my lord," said Sir Thomas; "and, under all
circumstances, he makes himself out a villain."
"I can perceive no evidence of madness, so far," replied his lordship;
"proceed."
"None but a villain would have served your purposes; but if I was
a villain, it wasn't to bear out your wishes, but to satisfy my own
revenge."
"But what cause for revenge could you have had against him?" asked, his
lordship.
"What cause?" exclaimed the old man, whilst his countenance grew dark
as night, "what cause against the villain that seduced my daughter--that
brought disgrace and shame upon my family--that broke through the ties
of nature, which are always held sacred in our country, for she was his
own foster-sister, my lord, suckled at the same breasts, nursed in the
same arms, and fed and clothed and nourished by the same hand;--yes, my
lord, that brought shame and disgrace and madness, my lord--ay, madness
upon my child, that he deceived and corrupted, under a solemn oath of
marriage.
Pages:
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243