your lives," said I, finding we had at length surmounted the hill, and directed them to go at once to the house of Mr Courthrope. Indeed there was not a moment to be lost, for it was clear that the madman's suspicions were roused, indefinite as might be his apprehensions; and his cunning and violence, each equally to be dreaded, might prompt him to take some dangerous, if not fatal step, in my absence. Fortunately, I found Mr Courthrope at home, and immeasurably shocked he was at my intelligence. It seemed that the Baronet and he had been totally estranged for some months, owing to an affront, which he was now satisfied arose out of his unhappy relative's insanity. Our arrangements were soon made. We exchanged the chariot in which I had returned to town, for a commodious carriage, calculated to hold four or five persons, and drove off at once to the residence of Dr Y—, one of the most eminent "mad-doctors," as they are some what unceremoniously denominated. Our interview was but brief. In less than half an hour, Dr Y-, Mr Courthrope, and I, with two keepers, deposited ourselves respectively within and without the vehicle, and set off direct for -Hall.

was

Mr Courthrope and I were sad enough; but little Dr Ycalm and lively as if he were obeying an invitation to dinner!

"Suppose Harleigh should grow desperate-should offer resistance!" said Mr Courthrope, very pale. "Nothing more likely," replied Dr Y-, coolly.

"But what is to be done? My cousin was always an athletic man; and now that the strength of madness"

"Pho, my dear sir, he would be but as a child in the hands of those two fellows of mine outside-like a wild elephant between two tame ones-ha, ha!"

"You, I dare say, have witnessed so many of those scenes," said I, with a faint smile for his indifference hurt me; it jarred upon my own excited feelings.

"For Heaven's sake-for Lady Anne's sake, Dr Y," said Mr Courthrope agitatedly, as a sudden turn of the road brought us in sight of Hall," let nothing like violence be used."

My dear Doctor, how did you know it was loaded? 'Tis what one would have called at the schools a gratuitous assumption! Madmen have a vast penchant for terrifying with fire-arms; but somehow they always forget the ammunition!"

"But only put the case; suppose Sir Henry should have got possession of a pistol ready loaded to his hand!"

Certainly, in such a case, something awkward might occur," replied Dr Y-, seriously, "but I trust a good deal to the effect of my eye upon him from the first. 'Tis a kind of talisman among my patients—ha, ha!"

"Poor Lady Anne!" exclaimed Mr Courthrope, “what will become of her ?"

"Ah! she must be reasoned with, and kept out of the way; otherwise we may expect a scene!" replied matter-of-fact Dr Y-.

Now there was a certain something about this my professional brother that was intolerable to me; a calm, self-satisfied air, a smirking civility of tone and manner, that, coupled with his truly dreadful calling, and the melancholy enterprise which he at present conducted, really revolted me. How doleful-how odiouswould be the jocularity of Jack Ketch! And, again, when the Doctor, who was a well-bred man, saw the sickening agitation of his two companions, there was an artificial adaptation of his manner, in the tones of his voice, and the expression of his features, that offended me, because one felt it to be assumed, in consideration of our weakness! He was, however, in his way, a celebrated and successful man, and I believe deserved to be so.

In due time we reached the park gates, and Dr Y-, Mr Courthrope, and I, there alighted, directing the carriage to follow us at a leisurely

pace to the hall-door. I rang the bell; and, after waiting nearly a minute or two, an elderly woman answered our summons.

"Can we see Sir Henry Harleigh?" enquired Mr Courthrope.

"No, sir," was the prompt reply. "And why not? My good woman, we must see Sir Henry immediately, on business of the highest importance."

"Indeed! Then you should have come a little earlier!"

"Come a little earlier ?" said I; "what do you mean? Sir Henry himself appointed this evening."

"Then it's clear he must have changed his mind; for he and my Lady both set off in a post-chaiseand-four some two hours ago, howsomever, and I don't know where, either; perhaps you had better go after him!"

We stood looking at one another in amazement.

"In what direction did he go?" enquired.

I

"Down the road, sir. He desired me to tell any one that might call, that he was gone off to Wales."

I sighed with vexation and alarm; Mr Courthrope looked pale with apprehension; while Dr Y—, with his eyes half-closed, stood looking with a smiling inquisitiveness at the confident woman that was addressing us. A pretty stand-still were we arrived at! What was now to be done? "Here!" said Dr Y--, in an under tone, beckoning us to follow him to a little distance from the door. We did so.

"Pho, pho!" he whispered, taking our arms into his-" the woman is trifling with us. Sir Henry is at this moment in the Hall-aye, as surely as we are now here!" "Indeed! How can you possibly"-

Ah, he must be very clever, either sane or insane, that can deceive me in these matters! 'Tis all a trick of Sir Henry's-I'll lay my life on't. The woman did not tell her tale naturally enough. Come, we'll search the Hall, however, before we go back again on a fool's errand! Come, my good woman," said he, as we reascended the steps, "you have not told us the truth. We happen to know that the Baronet and his lady are at this moment above stairs,

'Oh, lord!" replied the woman, with an air of vexation. "You must do as you please, gentlemen-I've given you my answer, and you'll take the consequences.

It

With this she left us. After a short consultation, Mr Courthrope volunteered to go through the principal rooms alone. In about ten minutes' time he returned, not having seen any thing of the fugitives, except a letter lying on the librarytable, in the Baronet's frank, the ink of which was scarcely dry. proved only, however, a blank envelope. We determined together to commence a strict search over the whole Hall. Every room, however, we explored in vain, and began to despair of success. The back drawingroom we examined again, hoping to find some note or letter that might give us a clue to the Baronet's retreat. It commanded a fine view of the grounds; and after standing for some moments at the window, narrowly scrutinizing every shrub or tree that we could fancy Sir Henry lurking either in, or near-we turned together in council once more. Where could he be? Had he really left the place? We cast our eyes on the mantel-piece and table, on which were scattered various papers, notes, cards, &c., and one or two volumes, with the Baronet's manuscript notes in the margin-and sighed. This, Mr Courthrope informed us, was Sir Henry's favourite room, because of the prospect it commanded. We could, however, see nothing to cast a ray of information upon the subject of our enquiries. We determined, then, to commence a rigorous search of the outer premises, but were delayed for a time by the violence of the storm. The afternoon had been very gloomy, and at length the rain came down in torrents. The thunder rattled directly overhead, in fearful proximity, followed in a

second or two by lightning of terrible vividness. Peal upon peal, flash after flash, amid the continued hissing of the hail and heavy rain, followed one another, with scarce a minute's intermission. Nothing attracted the eye without, but the drenched gloomy grounds, and the angry lightning-laden sky; a prospect this, which, coupled with thoughts of the melancholy errand on which we were engaged, completely depressed our spirits-at least I can answer for my own.

"Gloomy enough work this, both within and without!" exclaimed Dr Y--. "If Sir Henry is travelling, he will be cooled a little, I imagine."

"What can he have done with Lady Anne? I tremble for her safety!" exclaimed Mr Courthrope.

"Oh, you may depend she's safely stowed somewhere or other! These madmen are crafty beyond" said Dr Y-, when the doors of an oldfashioned oaken cabinet, which we had examined, but imagined locked, were suddenly thrown wide open, and forth stepped the Baronet, in travelling costume, with a composed haughty air.

"Gentlemen," said he, calmly, "are you aware of the consequences of what you are doing? Do you know that I am Sir Henry Harleigh, and that this happens to be my house? By what warrant-at whose command-do you thus presume to intrude upon my privacy?

He paused, his hand continuing extended towards us with a commanding air. His posture would have charmed a painter. The suddenness of his appearance completely astounded Mr Courthrope and myself, but not so Dr Y--, the experienced Dr Y--! who, with a confident bow and smile, stepped forward to meet Sir Henry almost at the moment of his extraordinary entrée, just as if he had been awaiting it. Never, in my life, did I witness such a specimen of consummate self-possession.

"Sir Henry, you have relieved us," said Dr Y--, with animation, "from infinite embarrassment; we have been searching for you in every corner of the house!"

"You have been-searching-for me, sir! Your name!" exclaimed the Baronet, with mingled hauteur

and astonishment, stepping back a pace or two, and drawing himself up to his full height.

Pray, Sir Henry, relieve us, by saying where her ladyship is to be found!" pursued the imperturbable Dr Y

I could scarce tell why, but I felt that the Doctor had mastered the madman-as if by magic. The poor Baronet's unsteady eye wandered from Dr Y― to me, and from me to Mr Courthrope.

"Once more, sir, I beg the favour of your name?" he repeated, not, however, with his former firmness. "Dr Y-," replied that gentleman, promptly, bowing low.

The Baronet started. "Dr Y——, of?" he whispered, after a pause, in a low thrilling tone.

66

Precisely-the same, at your service, Sir Henry," replied the Doctor, again bowing. Sir Henry's features whitened sensibly. He turned aside, as if he could not bear to look upon Dr Y, and sunk into a chair beside him, murmuring, "Then I am ruined!"

"Do not, Sir Henry, distress yourself!" said Dr Y-, mildly, approaching him-but he was motioned off with an air of disgust. Sir Henry's averted countenance was full of horror. We stood perfectly silent and motionless, in obedience to the hushing signals of Dr Y.

George," said Sir Henry, addressing Mr Courthrope in afaltering tone, "You are not my enemy"

"Dear, dear Henry!" exclaimed Mr Courthrope, running towards him, and grasping his hand, while the tears nearly overflowed.

"Go and bring Lady Anne hither!" said the Baronet, his face still averted, "you will find her in the summer-house, awaiting my return!"

Mr Courthrope, after an affirmative nod from Dr Y- and myself, hurried off on his errand, and in a. few moments returned, accompanied

or rather preceded by Lady Anne, who, in a travelling-dress, flew up the grand staircase, burst open the doors, and rushed into the room, almost shrieking, "Where-where is he? Dear, dear Henry! my husband! What have they done to you? Whither are they going to take you? Oh, wretch!" she groaned, turning towards me her pale, beautiful countenance, full of desperation, "is

with which Sir Henry, to the last, concealed his more violent extravagances, and the address with which he fixed upon Lady Anne the imputation of insanity, alleging frequently, as the cause of dismissing his servants, his anxiety to prevent their witnessing the humiliation of his Lady. More effectually to secure himself impunity, he had supplied them liberally with money, and sent them into Wales! On one occasion he had detected Sims-the maidin the act of running from the Hall, with the determination, at all hazards, of disclosing the fearful thraldom in which they were kept by the madman; but he seemed apprized of her movements-she fancied, even of her intentions-as if by magic;met her at the Hall gates, and threatened to shoot her, unless she instantly returned, and on her knees took an oath of secrecy for the future. He would not allow a stranger, or visitor of any description, under any pretence, to enter the precincts of the Hall, or any member of his family, except as above mentioned, to quit them. He had prayers three times a-day, and walked in procession every day at noon round the house-himself, his lady, her maid, and the cook; with many other freaks of a similar nature. He got up at night, and paraded with firearms about his grounds! I understood that these palpable evidences of insanity had made their appearance only for a few days before the one on which I had been summoned. Sir Henry, I found, had always been looked upon as an eccentric man; and he had tact enough to procure his unfortunate Lady the sympathy of his household, on the score of imbecility. After giving the maid such general directions as suggested themselves, to procure an immediate supply of attendants, and to have the neighbouring apothecary called in on the slightest emergency-and enjoining her to devote herself entirely to her unhappy lady-I returned to her chamber. The slight noise I made in opening and shutting the door start. led her ladyship from the brief doze into which she had fallen a few minutes before I quitted her bed-side. She continued in a state of lamentable exhaustion; and finding the soothing draught I had ordered for her

was beginning to exhibit its drowsy agency, I resigned my patient into the hands of the apothecary whom I had sent for, and hastened up to town, by one of the London coaches which happened to overtake me.

Late in the evening Mr Courthrope called at my house and informed me that they had had a dreadful journey up to town. For the first mile or two the Baronet, he said, appeared absorbed in thought. He soon, however, began to grow restless-then violent

and ultimately almost unmanage able. He broke one of the carriage windows to atoms, and almost strangled one of the keepers, whom it was found necessary to summon to their assistance, by suddenly thrusting his hand into his neckerchief. He insisted on the horses' heads being turned towards the Hall; and finding they paid no attention to his wishes, began to utter the most lamentable cries-which attracted many persons to the carriage. On reaching Somerfield House, the private establishment of Dr Y--, whither it was thought advisable, in the first instance, toconveythe Baronet,till other arrangements could be made-he became suddenly quiet. He trembled violently-his face became pale as ashes, and he offered no opposition to his being led at once from the carriage into the house. He imagined it was the Tower. He sate in silent moodiness for a length of time, and then requested the attendance of a chaplain, and a solicitor. In a private interview with the former, he fell down upon his knees, confessing that he had several times attempted the life of Lady Anne, though he declared with solemn asseverations that he was innocent of treason in any shape. He owned, with a contrite air, that justice had at length overtaken him in his evil career. He imagined, it seemed, as far as they could gather from his exclamations, that he had that morning murdered his Lady! On Mr Courthrope taking leave of him for the evening, he wrung his hands with the bitterness of a condemned criminal who is parting with his friends for ever, and in smothered accents warned him to resist the indulgence of unbridled passions!

Well-a singular-a woful day's work had I gone through; and I thanked God, that-putting out of