leasant
place together. Thank you, my milliner is not ready yet, and I want to
make a good appearance when I do go. I suppose I shall have to some day.
Your health, Sir Richard. Now let me speak to you seriously. Go home to
your wife at once. But I know the sort of fellow you are, and I must be
plain with you. Did I ever say I loved you? You may hate me as much as
you please, but I will save you from being a fool.

"Now listen to me. You know my relations with Mount. That beast Brayder
offered to pay all my debts and set me afloat, if I would keep you in
town. I declare on my honour I had no idea why, and I did not agree to
it. But you were such a handsome fellow--I noticed you in the park before
I heard a word of you. But then you fought shy--you were just as tempting
as a girl. You stung me. Do you know what that is? I would make you care
for me, and we know how it ended, without any intention of mine, I swear.
I'd have cut off my hand rather than do you any harm, upon my honour.
Circumstances! Then I saw it was all up between us. Brayder came and
began to chaff about you. I dealt the animal a stroke on the face with my
riding-whip--I shut him up pretty quick. Do you think I would let a man
speak about you?--I was going to swear. You see I remember Dick's
lessons. O my God! I do feel unhappy.--Brayder offered me money. Go and
think I took it, if you like. What do I care what anybody thinks!
Something that black-guard said made me suspicious. I went down to the
Isle of Wight where Mount was, and your wife was just gone with an old
lady who came and took her away. I should so have liked to see her. You
said, you remember, she would take me as a sister, and treat me--I
laughed at it then. My God! how I could cry now, if water did any good to
a devil, as you politely call poor me. I called at your house and saw
your man-servant, who said Mount had just been there. In a minute it
struck me. I was sure Mount was after a woman, but it never struck me
that woman was your wife. Then I saw why they wanted me to keep you away.
I went to Brayder. You know how I hate him. I made love to the man to get
it out of him. Richard! my word of honour, they have planned to carry her
off, if Mount finds he cannot seduce her. Talk of devils! He's one; but
he is not so bad as Brayder. I cannot forgive a mean dog his villany.

"Now after this, I am quite sure you are too much of a man to stop away
from her another moment. I have no more to say