THE DISCARDED SON; OR, HAUNT OF THE BANDITTI. A Tale. IN TWO VOLUMES. BY REGINA MARIA ROCHE, AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY, &c. PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY PETER BURTSELL, STATIONER, NO. 10, WALL STREET. T. KIRK, PRINTER, BROOKLYN. THE DISCARDED SON. CHAP. I. • Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, SHAKESPEARE. THE Marchesa now made a proposal to Osmond that was truly agreeable, namely, as the attendance of a valet could not be dispensed with by him, to take Mactalla into his service, who, notwithstanding his sincere attachment to her family, wished to extend his rambles beyond her domain; and had besides conceived such a partiality for him, he having been the servant appointed to wait on him, that he felt solicitous to continue in that situation. This matter being arranged to the satisfaction of all parties, Osmond next availed himself of an opportunity that just at this juncture occurred of writing to England. His letter was long and explanatory. After entreating no time might be lost in writing to the different places where there was a chance of Delacour's touching on his return to Europe, he expressed his hopes of his parents having no objection to joining him as soon as possible in Italy, where every thing that filial love and duty could dictate for their happiness should be done by him. The Count, as the most likely method he thought he could have recourse to for the purpose, endeavoured to induce him to protract his stay at Acerenza, by assuring him he was positive, if he prolonged it, they should yet be able to discover who the fair stranger was. Osmond, however, remained inexorable to his entreaties; but at the VOL. II. A |