As I became impressed by this conviction, the enervating remembrance of the wickedness to which I had been sacrificed, grew weaker in its influence over me; the bitter tears that I had shed in secret for so many days past, dried sternly at their sources; and I felt the power to endure and to resist coming back to me with my sense of the coming strife.  On leaving the library, I ascended again to my own room.  In a basket, on my table, lay several unopened letters, which had arrived for me during my illness.  There were two which I at once suspected, in hastily turning over the collection, might be all-important in enlightening me on the vile subject of Mannion’s female accomplice.  The addresses of both these letters were in Mr. Sherwin’s handwriting.  The first that I opened was dated nearly a month back, and ran thus: 

“North Villa, Hollyoake Square.

“DEAR SIR,

“With agonised feelings which no one but a parent, and I will add, an affectionate parent, can possibly form an idea of, I address you on the subject of the act of atrocity committed by that perjured villain, Mannion.  You will find that I and my innocent daughter have been, like you, victims of the most devilish deceit that ever was practised on respectable and unsuspecting people.

“Let me ask you, Sir, to imagine the state of my feelings on the night of that most unfortunate party, when I saw my beloved Margaret, instead of coming home quietly as usual, rush into the room in a state bordering on distraction, with a tale the most horrible that ever was addressed to a father’s ears.  The double-faced villain (I really can’t mention his name again) had, I blush to acknowledge, attempted to take advantage of her innocence and confidence—­all our innocences and confidences, I may say—­but my dear Margaret showed a virtuous courage beyond her years, the natural result of the pious principles and the moral bringing up which I have given her from her cradle.  Need I say what was the upshot?  Virtue triumphed, as virtue always does, and the villain left her to herself.  It was when she was approaching the door-step to fly to the bosom of her home that, I am given to understand, you, by a most remarkable accident, met her.  As a man of the world, you will easily conceive what must have been the feelings of a young female, under such peculiar and shocking circumstances.  Besides this, your manner, as I am informed, was so terrifying and extraordinary, and my poor Margaret felt so strongly that deceitful appearances might be against her, that she lost all heart, and fled at once, as I said before, to the bosom of her home.

“She is still in a very nervous and unhappy state; she fears that you may be too ready to believe appearances; but I know better.  Her explanation will be enough for you, as it was for me.  We may have our little differences on minor topics, but we have both the same manly confidence, I am sure—­you in your wife, and me in my daughter.