Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-03-15
N0RA'S PERIL.
CHAPTER V.

NllhI LEN
About week subsequent TO Count Albano's
arrival, Colonel De Burgho after breakfast one
morning invited me 10 walk with him on the
terrace; he then told me that the Count had on
theprevlous evening expressed wish to have
an interview with him, and that the hour APP
pointed had almost arrived.
81 shall not, Mr.. Mervyn," said he, ''be able
10 give my attention to our plans until the after
noon, when, II you will meet me, we will re-
sumo their consideration"
"Well, MervyD, have had long interview
with the Count he has produced TO me the title
deeds of his estate, which appear to be very
satisfactory, as far as can judge, but as they
are written In Italian law characters can form
no decided opinion about them, and have told
the Count that will refer them 10 my lawyer
In Dublin, stating that he must not expect dis
patch, as all lawyers, particularly Irish lawyers
are proverbially slow In their movements
What, however, | really intend TO do is TO send
the papers 10 an old friend of mine who Is con-
sui at Livorno; i will request him to 90 to
Genoa and submit them 10 the most eminent
notary of that city, instructing him to subject
them 10 the closest scrutiny. shall write fully
all the circumstances OF the case TO my friend,
for his guidance, and while l am doing so, per-
haps you will kindly arrange to have man and
horse ready to take the dispatch TO the postoiicc
at -, where, calculate, he may arrive in
time to catch the mail 10 Dublin, and so save a
day, which is of importance in this business"
Iretired 10 make the arrangement requested,
and after an interval OF AN hour, on re-entering
the library, found the colonel sealing large
packet, which he informed me, contained the
Counts little deeds.
"Mervyn," he said, ''here ia the packet; |
have addressed 1t to a friend at the Foreign
Office who will re-a1dress II to my friend AT
/ ivnrnn. hp will snn6 n in tho EOrpiOp
Office bag TO Naples, requesting some official
there to forward it; this mode of conveyance
will he more expeditions than the ordinary
mails. ] have also written 10 my friend al
Livorno 10 return the papers by the same route;
thus have done all in my power 10 secure
speed, and nothing remains but TO send the
messenger off without delay, and await my
friends reply, which we may hope to have in
about three weeks
Having dispatched the messenger we resum-
ed our business avocations, and for some days
the colonel and / were closely occupied in ma
turing our plans aud arranging for "opening
the trenches"
Although so much Of my time was now en-
crossed by my new duties, had sufficient OPP
portunity Of studying the character and per
sonal appearance Of my rival, for such per
sisted in considering him.
In person Count Albano was above the
average height, but his carriage was not
good or graceful /; his shoulders iu-
clined &c roundness, and he walked with a
slight stoop his hair was dark as "A ravens
wing, but had Tough and unkempt appear
auce; his forehead was low, his nose and chin
well cut, but not of classical mould; his mouth
and teeth were invisible, for he was "bearded
like pard;" his complexion was pale, and
this circumstance led me TO conclude that he
was deficient in ''pluck;n his eyes were dark,
almost block, but they had dull, leaden look,
without expression-in fact, they were the eyes
of snake; and he had the dsagreeable pecul-
iarity of not looking you straight in the face.
On entering q room, or approaching 10 salute
you at any time, he had habit OF making sew.
eral short quick steps forward with his head
down, as IL he we're about to butt you with it
in the breast, mode Of fighting common in
some OF the western counties of England. On
his approach always felt inclined to jump
aside and evade the threatened ran-like thrust;
but his most repulsive popularity was his
laugh-short, sneering and superciious, a sort
Of hooking exclamation, like tie laugh OF Il
hyena. His feet were of moderate size, but his
hands were large and Informed; his manners
were tolerably good, and presume his conyer-
sation was that of a gentleman; OF this could
not judge, as he always conversed In Italian;
but more than once observed both the Colonel
and Kathleen exchange glances when the
Count made some hasty observation, particular
" when at cards. a. II they had observed some
breach of good bre, ding; and, at the same time,
"A tell-tale blush would suffuse Norahs gener
ally pallid countenance.
One accomplishment the Count certainly pos
sessed--he sang beautifully; even i, though
prejudiced against him, could not but admit
this. Since his arrival j had ceased to contrib
ute TO the vocal amusement OF the evening.
could not, as yet, venture to sing Italian: 80,
during his stay, j determined 10 restrict my
contributions towards the divine art TO perform
Inc upon the violin, on which / was without q
rival, and knew that was fairly proficient.
Colonel De Burgho had been, in early life, an
athlete of no mean power, and possessed an ex
cellent armoury, with all the usual appurten-
ances of a private gymnasium For the pur-
pose OF testing the Counts accomplishments
Of this nature ] suggested to the Colonel that
we should devote an hour each afternoon to
shooting with the rifle and pistol, with broad
sword, and other exercises. The old soldier at
once approved the proposition, and deserted
court of the castle, In which was daisy cover
ed sward, was selected as most suitable for our
purpose; thither we repaired every afternoon,
and contested at quots, whirling the clubs,
putting the stone, pitching the bar, rife and
pistol firing at targets and similar exercises,
at all Of which proved myself UNNECESSARILY
the Counts superior. With the gloves he was
nowhere at,all; relying on the paleness Of his
complexion, which, had somewhere read, is
generally supposed to be allied 10 cowardce,
used to hit out straight at his eyes, and II was
amusing to see him duck his head to evade the
blow The spectators on these occasions we're
=,
when the gloves were brought out they always
advised me to ''be finder wild the Turin gintle-
man, Mr.. Mervyn, now, or yell knock him In
I'll the middle o. next week."
The only weapons in the use Of which the
Count was my superior were the broadsword
and cutlass. The use Of these he had evident
~ been taught when in the navy.
therefore privately practiced the
sword exercise daily with the
Counts valet, an old cavalry soldier, who
taught me several cuts, thrusts, and parties
and was becoming rapidly skilled In theii
use.
1t will be evident that / had studied thu
Counts personal peculiarities and character
closely; In fact, my repugnance towards hin
increased as time elapsed. On his first arriva
/ had thought him an attractive person, bu
my opinion had. In the interval, undergon,
very considerable change; / could not dives
myself of the idea that his intentions were Of
sinister nature, and that should, before long
have to do battle with him for my love. II
this expectation daily practised every athlete
exercise In my power, and found myself quick
ly getting into the most perfect 'form."
TO he CONTINUED.
~ -