just finished, to the secretary of the Florentine republic, lay before him; and he seemed to be calmly enjoying the satisfaction of having performed an arduous and important duty.

Alfred, after having paid his respects, made immediate enquires about the Egyptian.

"The deserter who gave us warning of the enemy's approach? Why do you wish to see him?" replied Hawkwood, fixing his eyes on his visitor.

"I am not surprised, General, that you think my request a strange one. I will explain, therefore. A few years since, on my first arrival in Italy, chance threw us frequently together, at Milan, Venice, and elsewhere. He is a stranger in this country, and professes astrology, though I feel convinced that he is an impostor. Some hints which he threw out during our intercourse, led me to believe that he is acquainted with a portion of my family history, of which I myself am not only in ignorance, but regarding which I am most anxious for information. If I am right in my conjectures, he has the means, if he chooses, of clearing up my doubts, and

satisfying me on a very important point. These reasons, I trust, will appear sufficient for my making a request, which I confess is somewhat singular."

"Is that all?-you shall see him instantly. What! ho! Franz!"

As he spoke, his page, a fair slender youth of fifteen, opened the door.

"Send Michael Ireton here."

room.

The attendant vanished, and after the lapse of a few minutes, an English trooper entered the The man looked jaded and downcast ; his clothes, which had not been changed since the morning, were soiled and wet, and his whole appearance shewed that he had obeyed the General's summons unwillingly.

The hesitation of his manner did not escape the eye of his commander.

"How now, Ireton!" he exclaimed, "have you yet not found time to have your clothes dried, that you appear in this guise?"

The man muttered something about foraging duty, in a tone of voice which, perhaps, was not intended to be heard.

"You will conduct this cavalier immediately to your prisoner," replied Hawkwood; “you know whom the deserter who was given in charge to you at Melegnano."

"I understand, General; but—”

"But what?" exclaimed Hawkwood, turning suddenly on his heel, and eyeing the soldier with the impatience of a man accustomed to prompt obedience.

"It is impossible for me to execute your orders," replied the latter, in a faltering voice; my prisoner has escaped."

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Hawkwood's manner immediately changedafter darting a look of surprise at the trooper, the impetuosity of the soldier immediately gave way to the collectedness of the judge.

"You are aware," he said, calmly, "of the punishment to which those are subject who connive at the escape of a prisoner committed to their charge?"

"I am aware of that," replied the man; "but I did not assist in his escape.

"You must prove that to our satisfaction, or

else await the

consequences.

What is the

punishment, Nevil, in such cases?"

"Death, by the laws of war; but before proceeding to any such extremity, I would beseech you, General, to satisfy yourself of the guilt of Ireton. The man who was committed to his care, is so ingenious and expert in every kind of deceit, as I myself have witnessed on several occasions, that I could stake my reputation he has made his escape unassisted."

"Indeed!-let us hear Ireton's own account of the matter."

"It is not my life that I fear, General," replied the trooper; "I have risked that some scores of times, and you know it; but I fear dying a disgraced man; and I am afraid I shall not be able to prove my innocence.”

"Well, well; speak the truth, and fear nothing."

There are few people, however, who have the faculty of making a clear and consecutive extempore narration; and it was some time before he arrived at the essential part of his story. The substance of it was, that his prisoner hav

ing been provided with a horse before the commencement of the retreat through the flooded valley, had remained close by his side during the early part of the night; and so far from attempting to escape, had evinced by his whole demeanour the utmost indifference to his fate, until, in the confusion of crossing a deep watercourse, where one or two men and horses were drowned, he had suddenly disappeared, and escaped, as he imagined, in the darkness.

Hawkwood listened attentively to the nar

rative.

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Might he not have perished with the others. you speak of?" he asked, after a short pause.

"No, General; that is impossible," replied the soldier: "he wore no armour; and had he gone beyond his depth, the horse he rode could easily have borne his weight."

"The horse was not seen afterwards?"

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Neither horse nor man."

"Well, Ireton, you may go: I think you have told truth, and on considering the whole circumstances of this singular affair, I pardon your offence for the present; should it ever be