thus heap upon his unhappy family ruin upon ruin?
As to private animosity he felt none; even his public designs were fully answered: but since they had carried him so far, to retract was impossible. Every reflection he had previously given to the subject forcibly convinced him of the impolicy of accepting the challenge of De Brooke; for, were the circumstances connected therewith to become known, his credit and veracity might be so far questioned as to render it apparent that, rather than a devoted zeal in the service of Government, considerations of his own aggrandizement alone had actuated his proceedings against De Brooke.
"Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all."
The only plan, therefore, he conceived left for him to adopt, was to conciliate, and, by a pretended show of concern and friendship, gloss over the evils he had committed, rather than, by provoking further enmity, give confirmation to the suspicions already excited to his discredit. Assuming one of those habitual smiles under which he could so well disguise his real sentiments, he begged De Brooke to moderate his impetuosity, doubtless naturally to be expected from one so situated, but which he
