ing. A night, dark as Erebus, was thus superadded to the intricacies of a forest scarcely passable even at noon-tide. Vision, when strained, could not reach beyond a horse's length, and the forlorn hope of proceeding or retreating became a toss up. Had we abided by that chance, the vivid lightning would have told correctly the decision of the dollar. Jumbo, as I believe, took the wiser of the alternatives, and, like young Rapid in the play, made his mind up to push on and keep moving, and on he went, voice, hand, or heel of mine affording him neither assistance nor encouragement.

As we progressed at Mazeppa speed, the character of the evening became more alarming, or (and we shall best describe it by the term)-awful. The tallest and toughest trees bent like canes beneath the storm, and the lighter ones were uprooted altogether. On came the thunder closer and closer still, until it burst directly overhead in one tremendous and continued roar, which might have been supposed to herald the dissolution of a world. On the animal creation the effect was terrific. Birds, apparently bewildered, flew here and there, uttering discordant screams; beasts, small and large, wild and domesticated, ran madly through the forest; innumerable monkeys mowed and chattered from the crashing branches upon which they had perched themselves; the owls hooted, the vampire-bats shrieked hideously, the serpents' hissings could be heard distinctly, and howlings and bellowings, and noises indescribably demoniac, left it doubtful whether the denizens of the lower world had not been indulged on this dreadful night with an infernal saturnalia, and had selected this forest for the nonce.

In the interval between the livid flashes that lighted up the dense woods the darkness became deeper and more impenetrable. Poor Jumbo appeared to have heard of the demoniac attempt made upon the tail of Tam O'Shanter's mare, and in fear and terror that an onslaught would be made upon himself, and his own rear might thus undergo a fiendish visitation, he took to strong running as a last security, and, heedless of the murky darkness, which by contrast seemed deeper and deeper after every lightning flash, plunged forward as if he felt the foul fiend already pulling at his tail. With difficulty I kept my seat—and indeed a Roscommon steeple-chaserider could do no more. Jumbo was hard-mouthed in his unexcited moments, but to get a pull at him as matters stood at present, would have been about as practicable as to uproot a milestone with a pocket handkerchief. At last we cleared the wood, and falsified the proverb, for we were not yet authorized to halloo. Trees, on a runaway horse, are a tarnation nuisance in the dark, but a couple of swollen rivers are also ugly experiments-and in my mind it is a toss-up between wood and water after all.

Like the final crash of the overture to a fashionable melodrama, the elements had husbanded their strength for a last grand effort. The wind blew, not caring for bursting cheeks; the thunder retained its concentrated force for a fine wind-up in a parting volley, while half-adozen clouds, which had prudently retained their aqueous treasures, showered them simultaneously on the earth_beneath. I never emulated or enacted a young gentleman called Lochinvar, who

"Swam the Esk river where ford there was none;"

I never attempted the passage of the Dardanelles, like Lord Byron; but if crossing a couple of South American rivers in high flood, with the grand accompaniment of an elemental uproar,

if these should entitle me to first honours in horsemanship and natation, I hold myself equal to either Leander or Lochinvar, and but for personal diffidence (a fault of mine), as good touching performances as the twain united.

I reached my destination (the plantation), and the kindness of the overseer was only equalled by his astonishment. He first inquired touching my sanity; presumed that my life was insured; ordered a rum-bath, dry clothing, hot supper, and punch that would have scattered Father Mathew's self-denial to smithereens; and then I had such a sleep afterwards! that was, indeed, a wind-up to a night, which even "A child might understand

The de'il had business on his hand."

A West-Indian planter is always a man of feeling-and next morning (the storm having totally abated) Mr., my employer, sent two or three negroes to recover my corpse, were that possible, and have my remains decently interred. Dear good man! he generously presented me with a couple of dollars on my return, and hinted, that in half a dozen years perhaps he would add some ten pounds to my salary, if the demand for sugar became brisker. That promise was not realised-for in six weeks he was food for land-crabs. He died intestate-and being Scotch, the claimants to represent him were legion in number, and extended even to the third and fourth generation. Law proceedings in property cases are conducted with great caution-and Mr. Sergeant Roundabout has given a decided and satisfactory opinion, that the Thelluston estates, and the assets of Mr. Mungo Mactavish, will receive their final adjudication (the year not specified) very probably upon the same day.

617

THE NOTE-BOOK OF A CORONER'S CLERK.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "EXPERIENCES OF A GAOL CHAPLAIN."

CHAPTER XXXI.

A MYSTERY то THE LAST.

"He belonged to a class of beings on whom misfortune seems to seize from their very birth. He lived, struggled, and passed away under a cloud of mystery." MATURIN.

THERE was an interval of several minutes before the Baronet made his appearance; and while it lasted, the Count's people, who were woefully disconcerted at Spinkle's break-down, begged to tender the evidence of the celebrated Dr. Quoddums.

"Who may that gentleman be?" said the commissioner, musingly.

"A great authority in cases of lunacy," was the rejoinder: detect its presence under any disguise."

"can

Bohun was on his legs in an instant. He protested against his opponents being permitted to adduce further evidence.

"Our object is to get at the truth," said Mr. Sackville, quietly: "has Dr. Quoddums made insanity his particular study?" "For the last twenty years."

"Have circumstances ever brought him into Sir Philip's society?"

"Yes; on more than one occasion."

"Let him be called."

Dr. Quoddums was at once forthcoming. He was a sour-looking, elderly gentleman, who heightened the forbidding expression of a set of sharp angular features by a constant and ominous frown. Very voluble was he, and very prompt in his replies. The cheering and agreeable conclusion to which thirty years' practice had brought him was this-that all the world was more or less mad. The germ of insanity, he averred, was everywhere existent and everywhere progressive. People's wits went astray from over excitement-from want of excitement. The intellect was damaged and depraved by the constant contemplation of a low, flat, marshy country: was also unnaturally excited by being habituated to the bracing atmosphere of a lofty, mountainous region. High living would cause insanity: so would scanty and insufficient food. He had known it to be brought on by an intent perusal of Shakspeare's plays: by a prolonged attendance on a course of revivalist sermons. Governesses were singularly prone to this disease: so were Quakers. The affection, incontrovertibly, was on the increase. Seventeen men out of every twenty laboured under unsound intellect. Had held that opinion for the last dozen years: would die in it. Had met Sir Philip twice in society; had spoken to him; entertained the most thorough conviction that he was incompetent to the management of his own affairs, and should be put under immediate restraint.

The Doctor's gloomy features relaxed into a lively grin when he uttered this dictum. He smacked his lean lips, and looked around

him with the triumphant air of a man who has said something pre-eminently felicitous and appropriate.

Bohun instantly commenced a fire of cross-examination :-" How often and where have you met the Baronet?

"Twice:
: in a bookseller's shop, and at a china auction.",

"Oh!" ejaculated Mr. Sackville; and elevated his eyebrows with a significant air, Bohun continued.

"On each occasion how long were you in Sir Philip's company?” "Twenty minutes: more or less."

Did you enter into conversation ? "

"Yes; on different topics."

"Did he betray," persevered Bohun, "any excitement in manner or language?"

"No: not that I recollect."

"Did you notice anything unusual in his personal bearing or appearance?"

No: nothing that struck me at the moment as being particularly outré, or remarkable."

"On what grounds, then, do you arrive at the conclusion just stated ?"

"Sir," says Dr. Quoddums, knitting his brows fiercely, and frowning on Bohun as if he would annihilate him," I am versed in insanity. I practise among the mad. They form my study,—my occupation, my one ceaseless pursuit. I live amongst them. I hold myself," cried the doctor, raising his voice, and shaking his head in a menacing manner at my unflinching and amused principal, -"I hold myself to be pre-eminently and specially qualified for practising among lunatics."

"Not a man, sir, in this room disputes at this moment that assertion." So spoke Bohun, with a profoundly deferential bow, and a merry roll of his eye. A slight titter among the auditory proved that the sally told.

"Sir!" resumed Quoddums,-his thick bushy eyebrows now met in the extremity of his indignation,-"I am not to be deceived on this point. It's an impossibility. I found my decision on data which cannot mislead me. I judge by the eye-its colour-its sadness-its unrest. The involuntary movements of the hands tell me much. The action of the muscles of the mouth tell me more. I want no words-no language-no sounds to influence my decision.” Here Dr. Quoddums swelled out his huge ungainly form, put a thumb into each pocket of his purple velvet waistcoat, and faced his auditory, revolving round, as it were, on a pivot, to each point of the compass,-"Once adopted, it is immoveable. And I pronounce, -unhesitating and unequivocally,-Sir Philip Grey de Fontenay to be insane."

"Ah!" said the commissioner, in a calm, gentle tone, which formed a curious contrast to the mad doctor's violence. By some present the quiet "ah !" was read "Bam!"

The door at the upper end of the room was now slowly unclosed, and the unhappy subject of this inquiry was bowed into the apartment. He was accompanied by one of his curates, and by a veteran officer, covered with scars and orders-Colonel Gash. This old friend of the family, who had seen much service, and gone through many hardships, had in the anteroom inveghed bitterly against the

entire proceedings, and denounced the gross insult offered to Sir Philip by the mere supposition that he was insane.

"This comes," cried the colonel," of training up children to be priests. They're as defenceless as women. Look at Sir Philip. But for the fact of his being a churchman this question would have slept till Doomsday. Derangement, forsooth! why, a civilian would have choked the promoter of the conspiracy with a message forth with,- Impugn my sanity, sirrah! Name your weapon and hour, and come out upon the daisies.' With a priest 'tis different. He, poor helpless being! can be bullied with impunity! Blackguards know this, and act upon it. Of that scamp the Count's lawyer-Fairbody do ye miscall him?-I simply affirm, he's out of place in this world: a warmer atmosphere would suit him better! Here we are! Safe and fast in The Star Chamber!' Now, Sir Philip, go in and win."

He, however, who was thus addressed, had anything but the appearance of a winner. He looked pale, helpless, feeble, agitated: could with difficulty articulate: and his reply to the courteous and re-assuring terms in which the Commissioner accosted him—if reply, indeed, there were-was a whisper.

The exhibition chafed the old Colonel prodigiously.

"This comes of Lady Cecilia's teaching. So much for women pretending to educate young men. Had Sir Philip been sent to a public school-Eton, Harrow, Westminster, he would have left it a man. As it is, he reminds one hourly of an overgrown missy! 'Pon my soul! though I'm seventy, I'll go out with the Count if the verdict's against us."

A few brief, unimportant questions had been asked and answered, when Mr. Fairbody suddenly became aware of a fact which seemed to gravel him-the presence of Mrs. Ravenspur.

That ubiquitous personage had placed herself in a position which enabled her to control with her eye every answer of the baronet, and to scan his every movement. It was by no means part of Mr. Fairbody's instructions to subserve the schemes of such an unscrupulous enemy; and he resolved, if possible, to dislodge his antagonist forthwith from her position. To this end he called the Commissioner's attention to her presence; and begged that "that intrusive woman” might be desired to withdraw.

Hilda neither by voice nor gesture noticed his observations, but fixedly retained her seat, to all appearance absorbed in deep, earnest reflection on the demeanour of her young master.

"I see no objection," said Sackville, after Fairbody had twice directed his attention to this obnoxious personage,- I see no objection to Mrs. Ravenspur's remaining; particularly if Sir Philip desires it."

"I do desire it," said the young man, with emphasis.

"Mrs. Ravenspur may remain," was the official decision. It was an important one to the baronet. In a measure, it decided the event of the day.

This skirmish over, the Commissioner questioned the young man touching his alleged determination never again to appear in public; on his avowedly unconquerable aversion to hold personal communication with any of his kind. The answer was firmly given, "I have not physical strength to meet the requirements of so

VOL. XXIV.

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