At these words a choleric flush dyed the faded cheeks of the hoary Sire.
"I am well aware of all that," answered I with bold composure. "I even expected it. Forsaken by fortune's smiles, and past all hopes, I renounced every pretension to a life, that had ceased to be my property. Willingly shall I devote it to him that demands it lawfully. But unlawfully?—I have friends."
Here the whole assembly turned pale, and looked consternation at each other: "How villain!" cried my guide, "thou hast betrayed us?"—
"I have not betrayed you, because I never had your confidence. Crossed in all things, L exchanged my ideas of your covenant with those of Don Pedro, a friend with whom accident made me acquainted, and whose notions of your society were still more favorable than mine. And why should I not be permitted to have cherished suppositions!—And, was it a crime, to have endeavoured to solve the mystic obscurities which you have burdened me with?—Have I used force to gain admission to this assembly? Was it not you
