ideas of marriage, though he never carried them
into effect.«
    »You say your supposed father? - What leads you to suppose Mr. Geraldin
Neville was not your real father?«
    »I know, Mr. Oldbuck, that you would not ask these questions on a point of
such delicacy for the gratification of idle curiosity. I will therefore tell you
candidly, that last year, while we occupied a small town in French Flanders, I
found in a convent, near which I was quartered, a woman who spoke remarkably
good English - She was a Spaniard - her name Teresa D'Acunha. In the process of
our acquaintance, she discovered who I was, and made herself known to me as the
person who had charge of my infancy. She dropped more than one hint of rank to
which I was entitled, and of injustice done to me, promising a more full
disclosure in case of the death of a lady in Scotland, during whose lifetime she
was determined to keep the secret. She also intimated that Mr. Geraldin Neville
was not my father. We were attacked by the enemy, and driven from the town,
which was pillaged with savage ferocity by the republicans. The religious orders
were the particular objects of their hate and cruelty. The convent was burned,
and several nuns perished - among others Teresa; and with her all chance of
knowing the story of my birth: tragic by all accounts it must have been.«
    »Raro antecedentem scelestum, or, as I may here say, scelestam,« said
Oldbuck, »deseruit poena - even Epicureans admitted that. And what did you do
upon this?«
    »I remonstrated with Mr. Neville by letter, and to no purpose. I then
obtained leave of absence, and threw myself at his feet, conjuring him to
complete the disclosure which Teresa had begun. He refused, and, on my
importunity, indignantly upbraided me with the favours he had already conferred.
I thought he abused the power of a benefactor, as he was compelled to admit he
had no title to that of a father, and we parted in mutual displeasure. I
renounced the name of Neville, and assumed that under which you knew me. It was
at this time, when residing with a friend in the north of England who favoured
my disguise, that I became acquainted with Miss Wardour, and was romantic enough
to follow her to Scotland. My mind wavered on various plans of life, when I
resolved to apply once more to Mr. Neville for an explanation of the mystery of
my birth. It was long ere