4. CHAPTER IV.
TREACHERY MAY CLOSE ITS EYES, BUT NEVER
SLEEPS.
“Thus, in a pageant show, a plot is made,
And peace itself is war in masquerade.”
Dryden.
Although De Lyle's interview with Burchard
had somewhat allayed the excitement of his feelings,
it had not succeeded in completely removing his
apprehensions of his confederate's treachery. Despite
his attempts to banish unwelcome fears, the
malignant and apparently triumphant expression of
Burchard's countenance, during a portion of the
time occupied in endeavouring to win him from his
treacherous purpose, would recur vividly to his
imagination, affording a more faithful, but less satisfactory
view of the depths of his character, and
seeming to indicate passions and energies which, if
fully aroused, would render him a troublesome and
dangerous antagonist. Such were De Lyle's feelings
on the morning succeeding his visit to the
residence of Burchard; but as weeks and months
passed away, and still no circumstance arose to
confirm his suspicions, he began to breathe more
freely, and at length, if his thoughts dwelt at any
time on the painful subject, the emotion it excited
was feeble, and the danger, if any, appeared too
remote to renew apprehension.
On the day following his visit to Burchard, De
Lyle called at the residence of Mr. Elwell, and succeeded
in finding Helen at home, but the presence of
a number of morning visiters effectually prevented a
tête-à-tête, and after awaiting an opportunity for a
private interview, until his patience became exhausted,
he made his congé and withdrew.
In two or three subsequent calls he was equally
unfortunate, either from the same cause, or in consequence
of Miss Elwell's absence, until his fears becoming
less vivid, he deemed it unwise to precipitate
a crisis which might, he trusted, be avoided, by a
show of confidence.
Meanwhile, his daily visits to the residence of
Rachel Samuel, which were less frequent during
the prevalence of his apprehensions in relation to
Burchard's disclosures, were resumed; and, as confidence
in his good fortune, and exemption from
impending calamity became restored, his unbridled
passions again assumed their empire.
That he enjoyed happiness in its true sense will
not be supposed, but his jaded appetites required
some powerful stimulant to arouse them from their
lethargy, and his invention was continually taxed
to furnish aliment wherewith to appease them.
Like the horse-leech at the vein, they cried “
give,
give,” thus rendering the
roué at once their slave
and prisoner.
