Dalibard bade him continue his watch, without hinting at his ulterior intentions, for, indeed, in these he was not decided.

Even should he discover any communication between Lucretia and Mainwaring, how reveal it to Sir Miles without forever precluding himself from the chance of profiting by the betrayal?
Could Lucretia ever forgive the injury, and could she fail to detect the hand that inflicted it?
His only hope was in the removal of Mainwaring from his path by other agencies than his own, and (by an appearance of generosity and self-abandonment, in keeping her secret and submitting to his fate) he trusted to regain the confidence she now withheld from him, and use it to his advantage when the time came to defend himself from Vernon.

For he had learned from Sir Miles the passive understanding with respect to that candidate for her hand; and he felt assured that had Mainwaring never existed, could he cease to exist for her hopes, Lucretia, despite her dissimulation, would succumb to one she feared but respected, rather than one she evidently trifled with and despised.
"But the course to be taken must be adopted after the evidence is collected," thought the subtle schemer, and he tranquilly continued his chess with the baronet.
Before, however, Gabriel could make any further discoveries, an event occurred which excited very different emotions amongst those it more immediately interested.
Sir Miles had, during the last twelve months, been visited by two seizures, seemingly of an apoplectic character.

Whether they were apoplexy, or the less alarming attacks that arise from some more gentle congestion, occasioned by free living and indolent habits, was matter of doubt with his physician,--not a very skilful, though a very formal, man.

Country doctors were not then the same able, educated, and scientific class that they are now rapidly becoming.