as strangely base as you have shown yourself to be,
and have depicted him, I would forbid to tread within
my gates, and hound him from my door at Stillyside."

"Words only anger you," said the astonished and
half daunted seigneur.

"Such words as yours have been:" was replied.
"What! do you expect to strike upon a bank where
bees have settled, yet not be stung; or dream to be
allowed to draw the bare hand, clasping down a sword,
but not be wounded?"

"What shall I say, yet not offend you?" soothingly
enquired Montigny.

"Say what you will," the advocate continued:
"what can be worse than what you have said already?"

"Hear me," said the seigneur, in the manner of
one who is going to make a confidential proposal:
"Either remove your ward, and receive a compensa-
tion for her absence, or quickly marry her, and I will
provide her with a dower."

"Now you are indeed a generous gentleman," said
the advocate, smiling; "You must have built
churches, surely, or founded hospitals, and always
have dealt out dollars liberally to the deserving.
But you are wealthy, and can do these things without
being impoverished. It is fortunate that you are
wealthy, for I shall accept of no paltry sum. Only
imagine, to have to banish her; to quench, or to
remove, the very beam that fills my life with light.
You must be liberal, if you would have me exile her
Come, sign me a bond for what I shall demand."

"You are in haste," observed the seigneur, some-
what startled at the advocate catching so readily at
the bait; but the latter was ready with his reply:

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