“It is false!  My parent gave me his solemn promise never to interpose his authority to compel me to marry against my will.”

“Very well:  you at the same time gave him your word never to see Hadley until he was cleared of the crime imputed to him; he believes you have been unfaithful on your part, and that he, therefore, is no longer bound to observe the compact entered into between you.”

“Again you are guilty of misrepresentation.  My father’s word was pledged to me before he had even asked me not to see Mr. Hadley, and there was, consequently, no compact between us, but a voluntary promise on either side.”

“Which you violated by going to meet Hadley, as you supposed.”

“No, sir, I did not.  My word was given to be observed so long only as Mr. Hadley appeared to be guilty.  I know him to be innocent, and that knowledge absolves me.”

“As you please on that point; for it matters but little, and does not change the view taken of the subject by Mr. Mandeville, who, as I said, has given you to me on the one condition of preventing a union between you and Hadley; and I am at liberty to act just as I see fit in order to accomplish this end.  Don’t you see that I have everything my own way, and your father’s sanction, also, to any measures I may adopt?”

“What you say may be true, though I have no evidence whatever that it is; for if you would lie to my parent, you would lie to me also.  One thing, however, I do know, and that is, that you have not yet obtained my consent to your proposed measures, and being of age, I have the legal right to make such disposition of my hand as I may see proper; and be assured I will never bestow it upon you!  Sir, I would prefer to wed the vilest wretch in the Penitentiary of any State before you.”

“You may repent the use of such words, fair lady; and, indeed, but for my merciful feelings toward you, ere this you would have been glad to beg the boon I now offer and you reject.”

“Infamous villain! never!”

“We shall see.”

“And we shall see!”

She fixed upon him that look from which he had so often shrunk before, and again he quailed beneath it.

“From what you have already said,” he replied, avoiding her gaze, “I am led to suppose you suspect me of crimes in the eyes of the law, which it would not be pleasant for the world to know.  This is an additional reason why I cannot permit you to leave this place except as my wife; for I am not prepared just yet to enter the court-room.  I am persuaded that one of your strongest reasons for refusing to marry me, has its foundation in a former preference, and is kept active by the hope of a union with the object of that preference; if so, permit me to say to you that Charles Hadley is dead!”

“Perhaps, but I must have better evidence of the fact than your simple, unsupported word, or I will not believe it. I know you bargained to have him killed, but I hope God overruled your wicked intentions.”