measure, mitigated the grief of Captain Crowe, who took his leave without
much ceremony; and, being joined by Crabshaw, proceeded with a heavy
heart to the house of Sir Launcelot, where they found the domestics at
breakfast, without exhibiting the least symptom of concern for their
absent master. Crowe had been wise enough to conceal from Crabshaw what
he had learned of the knight's fate. This fatal intelligence he reserved
for the ear of his nephew, Mr. Clarke, who did not fail to attend him in
the forenoon.

As for the squire, he did nothing but ruminate in rueful silence upon the
dappled gelding, the nosegay, and the predicted fate of Gilbert. Him he
forthwith visited in the stable, and saluted with the kiss of peace.
Then he bemoaned his fortune with tears, and by the sound of his own
lamentation was lulled asleep among the litter.




CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

IN WHICH THE CLOUDS THAT COVER THE CATASTROPHE BEGIN TO DISPERSE.


We must now leave Captain Crowe and his nephew Mr. Clarke, arguing with
great vehemence about the fatal intelligence obtained from the conjurer,
and penetrate at once the veil that concealed our hero. Know then,
reader, that Sir Launcelot Greaves, repairing to the place described in
the billet which he had received, was accosted by a person muffled in a
cloak, who began to amuse him with a feigned story of Aurelia, to which,
while he listened with great attention, he found himself suddenly