He laid himself upon his gorgeous bed a desponding, and, for the present, a discomfited man; nor could he for the life of him, much as he pretended to disregard the operations of a Divine Providence, avoid coming to the conclusion that the highway robbery committed on him looked surprisingly like an act of retributive justice.

He consoled himself, it is true, with the reflection, that it was not for the value of the note that he had committed the crime upon Fenton, for to him the note, except for its mere amount, was in other respects valueless.

But what galled him to the soul, was the bitter reflection that he did not, on perceiving its advantage to Fenton, at once destroy it--tear it up--eat it--swallow it--and thus render it utterly impossible to ever contravene his ambition or his crimes.

In the meantime slumber stole upon him, but it was neither deep nor refreshing.

His mind was a chaos of dark projects and frightful images.