“If,” said he, “I were to demand strict justice, I should not be satisfied with any thing less than the life of the criminal; but I am a Christian soldier, the disciple of Him who came into the world to save sinners;—­ for His sake,” continued he, crossing himself, “I forego my revenge, I spare the guilty.  If Heaven gives him time for repentance, man should not deny it.  It is my ward’s particular request, that I will not bring shame upon the house of his benefactor, the Lord Fitz-Owen, for whom he hath a filial affection and profound veneration.  My proposals are these:—­ First, that the criminal make restitution of the title and estate, obtained with so much injustice and cruelty, to the lawful heir, whom he shall acknowledge such before proper witnesses.  Secondly, that he shall surrender his own lawful inheritance and personal estate into the hands of the Lord Fitz-Owen, in trust for his sons, who are his heirs of blood.  Thirdly, that he shall retire into a religious house, or else quit the kingdom in three months time; and, in either case, those who enjoy his fortune shall allow him a decent annuity, that he may not want the comforts of life.  By the last, I disable him from the means of doing further mischief, and enable him to devote the remainder of his days to penitence.  These are my proposals, and I give him four-and-twenty hours to consider of them; if he refuses to comply with them, I shall be obliged to proceed to severer measures, and to a public prosecution.  But the goodness of the Lord Fitz-Owen bids me expect, from his influence with his brother, a compliance with proposals made out of respect to his honourable character.”

Lord Graham applauded the humanity, prudence, and piety of Sir Philip’s proposals.  He enforced them with all his influence and eloquence.  Lord Clifford seconded him; and the rest gave tokens of approbation.

Sir Robert Fitz-Owen then rose up.  “I beg leave to observe to the company, who are going to dispose so generously of another man’s property, that my father purchased the castle and estate of the house of Lovel; who is to repay him the money for it?”

Sir Philip then said, “I have also a question to ask.  Who is to pay the arrears of my ward’s estate, which he has unjustly been kept out of these one-and-twenty years?  Let Lord Clifford answer to both points, for he is not interested in either.”

Lord Clifford smiled.

“I think, returned he, “the first question is answered by the second, and that the parties concerned should set one against the other, especially as Lord Fitz-Owen’s children will inherit the fortune, which includes the purchase-money.”

Lord Graham said, “This determination is both equitable and generous, and I hope will answer the expectations on all sides.”

“I have another proposal to make to my Lord Fitz-Owen,” said Sir Philip; “but I first wait for the acceptance of those already made.”

Lord Fitz-Owen replied, “I shall report them to my brother, and acquaint the company with his resolution to-morrow.”