“No, no!  Would to God she was!  I would a thousand times rather have followed her to the grave!  But read, read, and know for yourself what has happened.”  Saying which, he placed the letters in the hypocrite’s hands, and then, while he was reading them, buried his face in his own hands, and sat in mute but agonized grief.

Duffel read the letters with secret delight, repeating to himself at every particular place where it suited him best, “Glorious!” and at the close of all, “I must reward Bill for this.  He’s a perfect gem of a devil for such work.”

But to Mandeville, in well-feigned amazement, he exclaimed: 

“Charles Hadley!”

“Yes,” said the afflicted parent, lifting his bowed head, “of all the world, him! a criminal and vagabond, who had fled from justice to hide himself from the face of man!  Oh, my God! to think that she would forsake home, friends, a good name, and trample upon a parent’s love for such a villain!”

“Perhaps it is not yet too late to save her?” suggested Duffel.

“How? what?” ejaculated the other, catching at the words as a drowning man would at a straw.

“I say it may be possible that the marriage-rites have not yet been performed.  This may be written for a blind to prevent pursuit.”

“No, no; I cannot doubt its truth, and would not have a hope raised in my heart to be crushed out again by despair.  Beside, whither should I go in pursuit of them?”

“I see you are in hopeless despondency, but I do not feel like giving over without a struggle—­I have too much to lose in Eveline.  Shall I try to rescue her?”

“Oh! yes, if you wish to do so.”

“And if, by any means, I can circumvent this Hadley, and prevent their union, I have your consent to make her my wife?”

“Certainly.”

“And will you interpose parental authority in my behalf?”

“Yes, after this I will.”

“I have still one request more to make, and that is, that you will permit me to act in my own way, and according to my own judgment in this matter.”

“Do so; I have no advice to give.”

“Very well; I am to understand, then, that if by any means I can rescue Eveline from Hadley, she is to be my wife?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will try.  I will follow them to the end of the world if need be.  Perhaps you may hear from me soon, perhaps not for a month.  Good-by.”

In a few moments he was galloping away at full speed, as if to impress his recent host with the idea that he was in great haste to be after the fugitives.

Mr. Mandeville had been too deeply absorbed with his own feelings to pay very strict attention to what Duffel was saying; but the words by any means now rose vividly up in his mind, and like a flash came the thought—­

“He may intend to murder Hadley!”

Starting to his feet, he hastened out for an explanation; but Duffel was already gone, and turning back, he entered his dwelling with the expression in his thoughts—­