however, from whom the ruined, expatriated, proscribed young nobleman might hope to find a kind reception.  He stole across the Channel in disguise, presented himself at Sunderland’s door, and requested to see Lady Clancarty.  He was charged, he said, with a message to her from her mother, who was then lying on a sick bed at Windsor.  By this fiction he obtained admission, made himself known to his wife, whose thoughts had probably been constantly fixed on him during many years, and prevailed on her to give him the most tender proofs of an affection sanctioned by the laws both of God and of man.  The secret was soon discovered and betrayed by a waiting woman.  Spencer learned that very night that his sister had admitted her husband to her apartment.  The fanatical young Whig, burning with animosity which he mistook for virtue, and eager to emulate the Corinthian who assassinated his brother, and the Roman who passed sentence of death on his son, flew to Vernon’s office, gave information that the Irish rebel, who had once already escaped from custody, was in hiding hard by, and procured a warrant and a guard of soldiers.  Clancarty was found in the arms of his wife, and dragged to the Tower.  She followed him and implored permission to partake his cell.  These events produced a great stir throughout the society of London.  Sunderland professed everywhere that he heartily approved of his son’s conduct; but the public had made up its mind about Sunderland’s veracity, and paid very little attention to his professions on this or on any other subject.  In general, honourable men of both parties, whatever might be their opinion of Clancarty, felt great compassion for his mother who was dying of a broken heart, and his poor young wife who was begging piteously to be admitted within the Traitor’s Gate.  Devonshire and Bedford joined with Ormond to ask for mercy.  The aid of a still more powerful intercessor was called in.  Lady Russell was esteemed by the King as a valuable friend; she was venerated by the nation generally as a saint, the widow of a martyr; and, when she deigned to solicit favours, it was scarcely possible that she should solicit in vain.  She naturally felt a strong sympathy for the unhappy couple, who were parted by the walls of that gloomy old fortress in which she had herself exchanged the last sad endearments with one whose image was never absent from her.  She took Lady Clancarty with her to the palace, obtained access to William, and put a petition into his hand.  Clancarty was pardoned on condition that he should leave the kingdom and never return to it.  A pension was granted to him, small when compared with the magnificent inheritance which he had forfeited, but quite sufficient to enable him to live like a gentleman on the Continent.  He retired, accompanied by his Elizabeth, to Altona.