quainted with the purport of the conversation, and he, somewhat more hastily than the more prudent Colonel desired, rose and extended his hand to Giulio in token of welcome, begging the Colonel to tell him, that if he had repented of his evil ways, and returned to his God, he would be the first to help him on his road. Giulio declared that he had made up his mind to become an honest man, and a good christian-and that he wished to get employment as a gentleman's valet; adding, with a sly twinkle of the eye, that good society had made him well adapted to this situation. "But," asked Colonel Llewellen, "how are we to be convinced of your sincerity ?" "You must trust to my honour," he said, laying his hand on his heart. "I was always reckoned a man of my word; and the captain used to say he would back me, for honourable parts, against any priest in the Papal territories." "What would you think of me?" asked the Colonel, laughing, "if I were to take. you into my service.' "That your excellency is an honest man yourself, because you take an honest man at his word, without asking too many questions and because your excellency knows that I may be an honest man in England, whatever my unfortunate stars may have made me in Italy." Mr. Lloyd, to whom the Colonel translated the conversation as it passed, took the matter rather seriously, and asked whether Giulio had been made to see the sin of his past life, and was desirous of altering it with a view to a change of heart before God, or merely, because he was tired of it, and wished to live better before men. Giulio looked at the venerable and benign countenance of the speaker, and became grave in his turn. He said, with much solemnity, that he had not heard the occasional warnings of Herbert, in vain. That he had been much impressed by his patience under his great afflictions, by the prayers he had heard him utter, and, above all, by the wonderful change in Margarita. That he had asked himself where such strength came from-and that conscience had whispered that it was given by the God he had forgotten and despised. He had tried, in vain, to quiet the fears that had been aroused in his breast, by this inward monitor, and had, at last, decided upon aiding Herbert and Margarita to escape, and to fly with them; and when it was discovered that they were already gone. He then determined to circumvent, if possible, the designs of the banditti to retake them, and succeeded, more than once, in putting them on a wrong scent. How he finally overtook them, and obtained Herbert's address, Mr. Lloyd and the Colonel already knew. Since that period, he had been doing his best to escape from Italy, and had finally succeeded, having first obtained absolution from a priest, and made a vow to begin and continue a new course of life. Again Mr. Lloyd bade him welcome to Glanheathyn, and gave him holy words of encouragement, assuring him that all who truly repented of their sins would be forgiven. Giulio bowed his head reverently over the old man's hand, and said that he hoped to make his resolutions good by God's help. In the course of a few days Giulio was regularly installed into the office of valet to Colonel Llewellen-a post he filled with so much zeal and activity-so much good humour and cleverness-that the worthy but grumbling Colonel had no fault to find. Margarita was delighted to see her poor friend once more, and argued well of his future good conduct. He soon picked up English and Welsh enough to make civil speeches to every one; and Miriam, who was unacquainted with his previous history, declared him the pink of a gentleman's vally de sham. |
