"Let me hear it, torture me no longer:" cried the
advocate imperatively: "Perfect knowledge, perhaps,
may stun me; but far worse to bear than were a shower
of vitriol poured on a green wound, are these distilled,
dire drops of apprehension. Sir, are you guilty that
you thus stand dumb? What have you done inju-
rious towards my ward, that you so linger upon the
street, and to my queries but gaze like one demented?
Sir, I charge you, tell me without more reserve or
hesitation, lest at last I listen to you with less of fear
than of anger. You have been--"

"The innocent accessory, I fear, to others' villany,"
Claude interrupted; "still, hear me," he continued,
"and forgive me if I bring you tidings that shall
hang as heavy on your soul as lead; yet have given
me the leaden bullet's swiftness, or that of the
blast, to waft them hither, blasting, to yourself. --
Sir, you have been robbed, bereaved; the star of
Stillyside is set, -- or, worse, plucked from its firma-
ment; my life, my lady, oh, my new-made love, your
peerless ward is stolen."

"Stolen!" the advocate echoed.

"Stolen; even from my very arms is plucked,"
continued Claude.

"Ill-freighted messenger," groaned the old lawyer;
"stolen! oh, Montigny, you have stolen half the
strength from these old limbs, and strained the
sinews that have never bent before, neither to man
nor to misfortune. Stolen! How stolen? It is false;
you jest, you mean that you yourself have stolen
her, -- have stolen her heart; you know I lately
caught you in the act; -- but, for her person, she
would not, could not, give it you without my leave.

[[92]]

p091 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p092w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p093

v?