“How can I save my country?”
“At M***d you shall be informed of it.”
“I am going to depart for that town to-morrow morning.”
“At ****, twelve miles from hence, you may stop for a short time—but mark well, only for a short time. You will meet Amelia there”—
“Amelia?”
“And will find her differently disposed from what she would have been without my interference.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Countess has vowed to be faithful unto death to the man of her heart. She has frequently renewed this rigorous vow at the tomb which she has devoted to his memory, and thus promised to the dear departed object of her love a sacrifice, which has driven to despair all those whom her uncommon charms have enchanted. You would have shared the same fate, my Lord, if my power had not dissolved the dreadful covenant which Amelia has made with the departed spirit of her Lord.”
I started up like a maniac—“That you have done? You have done that?”
The Irishman rose coolly from his seat: “Moderate your joy,” said he, “for you don’t know whether I have not deceived the Countess!”