vehemence; he ended with unassuming gentleness, making his appeal with the

same humility, as if he had asked to be the first in wealth, honour, and

power among Englishmen, and not, as was the truth, to be the foremost in

the ranks of loathsome toils and inevitable death. A murmur of approbation

rose after his speech. "Oh, do not listen to him," I cried, "he speaks

false--false to himself,"--I was interrupted: and, silence being restored,

we were ordered, as was the custom, to retire during the decision of the

house. I fancied that they hesitated, and that there was some hope for

me--I was mistaken--hardly had we quitted the chamber, before Adrian was

recalled, and installed in his office of Lord Deputy to the Protector.

We returned together to the palace. "Why, Lionel," said Adrian, "what did

you intend? you could not hope to conquer, and yet you gave me the pain of

a triumph over my dearest friend."

"This is mockery," I replied, "you devote yourself,--you, the adored

brother of Idris, the being, of all the world contains, dearest to our

hearts--you devote yourself to an early death. I would have prevented

this; my death would be a small evil--or rather I should not die; while

you cannot hope to escape."

"As to the likelihood of escaping," said Adrian, "ten years hence the

cold stars may shine on the graves of all of us; but as to my peculiar

liability to infection, I could easily prove, both logically and

physically, that in the midst of contagion I have a better chance

of life than you.

335

The Last Man