Williams and the others by his side. Every sound is hushed as he speaks.
"It is not outside, my friends, whom I hope I may never give reason to regret this day. It is not outside of my halls that I can give you thanks for my reception. There is no room in my house in which you are not freely welcome, this night, and to him who will not accept the call of the Earl de Montford, I will send poor Edward Barnett. Ten years from this day, if such of you as are spared, and I am one, will meet me here again, I will render to you an account of my stewardship, and then if you can raise again the cheers with which you have this day greeted me, poor Edward Barnett will be more than rewarded for his trials, and the Count de Montford the happiest of his race." The glorious sun shone full upon his manly form and handsome features, and as cheer upon cheer arose, not one that looked upon his open truthful countenance, feared he would not redeem his promise, or disgrace the proud motto emblazoned on the banners that waved high above his head on the battlements;--Nulli Secundi,--Second to none.
POSTSCRIPT.
THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.
Gentle reader! if thou hast been interested in this tale of human hopes and fears--of stern retribution on the wicked, if thou hast shed a tear over the fate of the gentle and the good--thou wilt perhaps be anxious to know more of him, who at the close of our tale, we left--in life"s young morning brightness--with wealth and power to aid in his path. Did he fall from his high estate, did prosperity dim the l.u.s.tre of his promise, (and methinks some gentle maiden asks, how sped he in his love.) If thou hast borne with our tediousness, and hast not fainted--fear not, we will inflict upon thee yet more.
What all thy tediousness on me? (_Leonato_)
Yes, please your worship. (_Dogberry_.)
If thou hast been disgusted at the gloomy record, and kicked the book from thee,--Why then farewell, so end the hopes of poor
TOBY ACONITE,
E SCRIBE.