He proclaimed his villainy on the spot, and
the marriage was interrupted, of course. But against the opinion
of more thinking men, who considered Sir Philip Forester as
having thrown himself out of the rank of men of honour, Captain
Falconer admitted him to the privilege of such, accepted a
challenge from him, and in the rencounter received a mortal
wound. Such are the ways of Heaven, mysterious in our eyes.
Lady Forester never recovered the shock of this dismal
intelligence.
*
"And did this tragedy," said I, "take place exactly at the time
when the scene in the mirror was exhibited?"
"It is hard to be obliged to maim one's story," answered my aunt,
"but to speak the truth, it happened some days sooner than the
apparition was exhibited."
"And so there remained a possibility," said I, "that by some
secret and speedy communication the artist might have received
early intelligence of that incident."
"The incredulous pretended so," replied my aunt.
"What became of the adept?" demanded I.
"Why, a warrant came down shortly afterwards to arrest him for
high treason, as an agent of the Chevalier St. George; and Lady
Bothwell, recollecting the hints which had escaped the doctor, an
ardent friend of the Protestant succession, did then call to
remembrance that this man was chiefly PRONE among the ancient
matrons of her own political persuasion.
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