Crime & punishment > Peveril of the Peak > Volume 2

rEVERIL, OF THE PEAE,
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in its viciuiLy. I think uq one could remain there
long, and retain his I’eason.”
uIl is an infernal hole,” answered the Earl,
“and I will have it built up one day —that is
full certain, — But hold—hold—for God's sake,
madam — what are you going to do?— Look at
the seal before you put it to the warrant—you
will see it is a choice antique cameo Cupid, ri¬
ding on a flying fish—I had it for twenty
zecclfins, from Signor Furabosco at Borne—a
most curious matter for an antiquary, but whicfi
will add little faith to a Manx warrant.”
“How can you trifle thus, you simple boy?”
said the Countess, with vexation in her tone and
look. “Let me haye your signet, or rather,
take these warrants, and sign them yourself,”
“My signet — my signet — Oh ! you mean that
with the three rpon,strous legs, which I suppose
was devised as the most preposterous device, tq
represent our most absurd Majesty of Man.—•
The signet — I have not seen it since I gave it
to Gibbon, my monkey, to play with.—He did
whine lor it most piteously — I hope he has not
gemmed the green breast of qcean with my sym¬
bol of sovereignty.”
“Now, by Heaven,” said the Countess, trem¬
bling, and colouring deeply with anger, “it was
your father’s signet! the last pledge which he
sent, with his love to me, and his blessing
to thee, the night before they murdered him, at
Bolton!”