Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-26

|
ted them; and having spread out the
former in such manner that they could
not fail to be seen by any one who should
come into the room next day-he paused
for few seconds. He then uncOrked
the phial-swallowe its contents-stood
motionless, as if transfxcd, for nearly a
minute-staggered towards sofa-and
fell senseless on it.
Now if any one should say that Mr..
Maxwell, with the suspicious he enter
tanned, or, rather, the knowledge he pos
sessed Of Sir Harry's intention, acted un-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
leaving him to carry it into execution,
the only defence can offer for him is
that-perhaps he had very good reasons
for acting as he did. But to relieve him
as speedily as possible from the odious
charge of conniving at so horrible deed
it will be as well at once to explain what
those reasons were.
Although the friendly intercourse
(which had hitherto subsisted between
these gentlemen had ceased for nearly a
twelvemonth prior to the period in ques-
ton, Maxwell, nevertheless, with con-
siderable anxiety watched the proceed
ings Of the son of his benefactor. He
was aware ofthe ruinous modes Of rais-
ing money rcsored to by Sir Harry,
whilst any thing remained in his posses
sion which he could either mortgage or
sell; and he was now also aware of the
distressing facts, that not only even those
means were exhausted, but that Sir Har-
ry was inextricably in debt. 1t happened
one morning that being with his solicitor
upon business of his own, that gentleman
put into his hands certain papers left
for inspection with him by one Of his eli
ents. They were documents connected
with transfer of some part Of Sir Har-
ry's property to person from whom he
had long been in the habit of raising the
supplies. Maxwell presently perceived,
what his solicitor intended he should be
informed of, that, in that transaction, an
obvious fraud had been practised upon
his inconsidcrate friend. This discove-
ry led him to examine into other trans
actions of similar kind; and the result
of his various Investigations was con-
viction that vast portion of the property
might fairly be recovered, since it had
been obtained from Sir Harry by NAL
practices of much graver description
than the mere infraction Of the UsuryI
Laws.
| Having, after several consultations
with his solicitor, decided as to the course
to be adopted, he resolved, in spite of
their late estrangement, to pay visit to
his quondam friend, and communicate
the pleasing intelligence to him. On
his way thither he met Mr.. Leslie, who
told him of the dinner-party for that day
81 am glad of it," said Maxwell, "for
| have something to tell him which will
give zest to his wine" But scarcely
had he entered the Baronet's dressing
room-(Sir Harry's astonishment at his
visit, and his manner of receiving him,
have already been described when he
was attacked by one Of those vague
undefinable--unaccountablea apprehen-
sions of approaching evil, which every
one, perhaps, has, at some time or other,
experienced. Why, he scarcely knew;
but he at once determined to delay
the communication he had to make till
the following day: and still less could he
tell why, at the same instant, he resolved
upon not quitting Sir Harry for the rest
of that afternoon. 1t was upon taking
this latter resolution that he requested
permission to send for his things to dress
there.
The rest is soon told.
We know very well that in cases of
emergency, where we suddenly find our
selves thrown unassisted upon our own
resources, and feel that something must
be done, our thoughts succeed each other
with such amazing rapidity that we seem
to jump at conclusions without any inter-
mediate train ofreasoning. But it is not
so; the process does take place; the diff
ference is, our thoughts express them
selves, if may so say, in pictures in
stead of words. If any one who has
found himself so situated will take the
trouble to recollect his sensations at the
time, he will find that he did not think in
words, but that a variety of pictures,-
scenes of various modes of action, pre-
sented themselves almost simultaneously
to his minds eye, and that by sort of
instinct, he pounced upon the right one.
This is something of what is usually un-
derstood by that rare quality called pres
ence Of mind:-a commodity which a
certain worthy gentleman once declared
never failed him, provided he were not
taken by surprise, but had time to turn
| tho ttar QUAR- ~, h;c haoI
Maxwell did not throw the poison out
at tire window; nor did he rush into the
drawing-room, with his face pale and his
hair standing on end; nor did he call
upOn the cOmnanv IN hind Sir Harry