Owing to corresponding incidents a certain resemblance to the celebrated scene in Ivanhoe was almost unavoidable; the author hopes he has steered clear of any intentional likeness, but if he has caught a faint echo from the immortal Scott, he is not ashamed to own it. "Sequiturque patrem, non passibus æquis."
[Note I, vol. ii, p. 45.]—The Funeral.
The scene at Lady Arranmore's funeral was taken from the description of the impressive and beautiful ceremony performed on the occasion of the late deeply lamented Prince Consort's sepulture.
[Note K, vol. ii, p. 126.]—Val di Bovino.
This Val is a narrow defile formed by the Cervaro through the Apennines, and has always been the celebrated haunt of brigands. The following scene is not fictitious, though names are of course changed.
[Note L, vol. ii, p. 129.]—The Vardarelli.
This was the name of some notorious banditti in the beginning of this century. I have no reason to believe they were not true Italians, though here a foreign parentage is given to them.
[Note M, vol. ii, p. 175.]—The Mysterious Guide.
This story is taken from an adventure which in part happened to a countryman of the author's.
[Note N, vol. ii, p. 259.]—Deaths of Earl and Countess.