His intellect must be very much shaken; he revoked at whist last night,--memory sadly impaired!" This may be a pitiable foible; but heroes and statesmen have had it most: pardon it in the proud old man! He enjoined the physician to state throughout the house and the neighbourhood that the attacks were wholly innocent and unimportant.

The physician did so, and was generally believed; for Sir Miles seemed as lively and as vigorous after them as before.

Two persons alone were not deceived,--Dalibard and Lucretia.

The first, at an earlier part of his life, had studied pathology with the profound research and ingenious application which he brought to bear upon all he undertook.

He whispered from the first to Lucretia,--"Unless your uncle changes his habits, takes exercise, and forbears wine and the table, his days are numbered." And when this intelligence was first conveyed to her, before she had become acquainted with Mainwaring, Lucretia felt the shock of a grief sudden and sincere.