“Sir, your assumed assurance would soon leave you if you were in a court-room, and the evidence of your guilt, as I have it, detailed by witnesses.  When your secret conference with those vile instruments—­not yet so vile as yourself—­whom it has pleased you to use as tools, were made known before a court and jury, your brazen impudence would depart, and the specter of a gibbet in the distance—­and but a short distance, too—­would pale your unblushing cheek and palsy your false tongue, skillful as you may have been in casting blame upon others by deceptive and lying words.  When it was proved that you stole my father’s horse; that you are responsible for the absence of Mr. Hadley; that you pointed the knife and the pistol at his heart, and then mendaciously represented him as the thief and kidnapper who is found in your own person; then, sir, would you vail your face and go out no more among men, but upon your forehead, as now upon your soul, would be the brand of thief, robber, murderer!  Ay, well may you cower! well may the cold sweat force itself out upon your brow!  Did it never enter into your debased mind that the villain who is degraded enough to sell himself to crime for a little sordid dust, will, for a larger sum, betray his employer?  Do you suppose that when you meditate vengeance upon your tools, they will idly await your pleasure and plans, and lift no hand in their own defense?”

At this point Duffel actually sprang to his feet, the great drops oozing from every pore!  How had his secret thoughts become known to her?—­thoughts that no mortal ear had ever heard him utter?

“Girl! girl!” he shouted, “who and what are you? demon, witch or spirit?”

Then he paused a moment, as if to collect himself, and decide upon a course of action.  Becoming a little more composed, he continued: 

“If you are in league with hell, then are we of one family if you have not belied me, and I shall take it upon myself to strengthen the affinity by—­”

“Sir!” she said, with a commanding look which awed him into silence, (for his superstitious feelings were already in the ascendant, and he began to fear her) “I have no connection with the household of his Satanic majesty, nor do I intend to have, albeit you have intimated to the contrary.”

“Don’t be too sure of that,” he interrupted.  “You must know that when I set my heart upon a measure, I never allow myself to be defeated in its accomplishment; and just now the darling object I have in view is a union with yourself.”

This was said with much of his usual assurance, though the expression of his face gave indications of internal uneasiness, and a trembling of soul, which belied the ostensible bravery put on for the occasion.

“You speak as though there was but one will in the world, of which you were the fortunate possessor; permit me to disabuse your overweening confidence and selfishness on this point.  I have no wish to pass words with such an unmanly representative of mankind as you, sir, but let me assure you it is my very calm and fixed determination to show you that all your intentions cannot be carried out.”