not see him: my soul was in my words,--my eyes could not perceive that

which was; while a vision of Adrian's form, tainted by pestilence, and

sinking in death, floated before them. He seized my hand, as I concluded--

"Unkind!" he cried, "you have betrayed me!" then, springing forwards, with

the air of one who had a right to command, he claimed the place of deputy

as his own. He had bought it, he said, with danger, and paid for it with

toil. His ambition rested there; and, after an interval devoted to the

interests of his country, was I to step in, and reap the profit? Let them

remember what London had been when he arrived: the panic that prevailed

brought famine, while every moral and legal tie was loosened. He had

restored order--this had been a work which required perseverance,

patience, and energy; and he had neither slept nor waked but for the good

of his country.--Would they dare wrong him thus? Would they wrest his

hard-earned reward from him, to bestow it on one, who, never having mingled

in public life, would come a tyro to the craft, in which he was an adept.

He demanded the place of deputy as his right. Ryland had shewn that he

preferred him. Never before had he, who was born even to the inheritance of

the throne of England, never had he asked favour or honour from those now

his equals, but who might have been his subjects. Would they refuse him?

Could they thrust back from the path of distinction and laudable ambition,

the heir of their ancient kings, and heap another disappointment on a

fallen house.

No one had ever before heard Adrian allude to the rights of his ancestors.

None had ever before suspected, that power, or the suffrage of the many,

could in any manner become dear to him. He had begun his speech with

334

The Last Man