He satisfied himself that the drawer could contain nothing to implicate him; and, even if it did, why, he was safe enough in the hands of Dalhousie.  The overseer he regarded as a kind of thing, who, while he retained him in his service, would never injure him.  Jaspar, for some reason or other, had formed no very elevated opinion of Dalhousie’s acuteness.  He had bought him off cheaply once, and could do so again.  If he refused to be bought off cheaply,—­and Jaspar grated his teeth at the reflection,—­why, a method could be devised to get rid of him.

While engaged in these musings, a knock at the door startled him to his feet.  It was not the overseer’s knock.

A servant announced a strange gentleman, who declined to give his name.

“Show him in,” said Jaspar, re-seating himself, and striving to assume a tranquillity which did not pervade his mind.  Since the consummation of his base scheme he had been a prey to nervous starts, and the announcement of a stranger stirred the blood in its channels, and sent his heart into his throat.  This nervous excitement had been increasing upon him every day, and his devotion to the bottle by no means tended to allay it.  Such are the consequences of guilt.  If the victim, before he yields to temptation, could anticipate the terrible state of suspense into which his guilt would plunge him,—­if he could see only a faint reflection of himself, starting at every sound in nervous terror, as before the appearance of some grim spirit of darkness,—­he would never have the courage to commit a crime.

The stranger entered the library.  It was De Guy.  At his appearance Jaspar’s fears gave way to a most uncontrollable fit of passion.

“Villain!” exclaimed he, “how dare you enter my house, after what has passed?”

“Gently, my dear sir!  You forget that we have been friends, and that our mutual safety requires us to remain so still,” said De Guy, in his silky tone and compromising manner.

Jaspar compressed his lips, and grated his teeth, while a smothered oath escaped him.  But his rage soon found a more audible expression.

“Friends!” By ——­, I should think we had been friends!” said he, fiercely.

“Certainly, my dear sir,—­friends.”

“Then save me from my friends!”

“Better say your enemies!  I fear you have a great many.”

“Save me from both!  May I ask to what fortunate circumstance I am indebted for the honor of this visit?” said Jaspar, sarcastically mimicking the silky tones, of the attorney.

“I came to forward our mutual interest.”

“Then, by ——­, you can take yourself off!  You and I will part company.”

“Indeed, sir, this is ungenerous, after I have assisted you into your present position, to treat me in this manner,” replied the attorney, smilingly shaking his head.

“I am not indebted to you for my life, or my position!  You have been a traitor, sir!—­a traitor! and, tear out my heart, but I will swing, before I have anything further to do with you!” roared Jaspar, with compound emphasis, as he rose from his chair, and advanced to the brandy-bottle.