Richmond: let him abjure my name; let me be nameless
in his house. And I promise you I shall be unheard of both in Christendom
and Heathendom: I have no heart except for my boy's nuptials with the
princess: this one thing, to see him the husband of the fairest and
noblest lady upon earth, with all the life remaining in me I pray for! I
have won it for him. I have a moderate ability, immense devotion. I
declare to you, sir, I have lived, actually subsisted, on this hope! and
I have directed my efforts incessantly, sleeplessly, to fortify it. I die
to do it! I implore you, sir, go to the prince. If I' (he said this
touchingly) 'if I am any further in anybody's way, it is only as a fallen
tree.' But his inveterate fancifulness led him to add: 'And that may
bridge a cataract.'

My grandfather had been clearing his throat two or three times.

'I 'm ready to finish and get rid of you, Richmond.'

My father bowed.

'I am gone, sir. I feel I am all but tongue-tied. Think that it is Harry
who petitions you to ensure his happiness. To-day I guarantee-it.'

The old man turned an inquiring eyebrow upon me. Janet laid her hand on
him. He dismissed the feline instinct to prolong our torture, and
delivered himself briskly.

'Richmond, your last little bit of villany 's broken in the egg. I
separate the boy from you: he's not your accomplice there, I'm glad to
know. You witched the lady over to pounce on her like a fowler, you
threatened her father with a scandal, if he thought proper to force the
trap; swore you 'd toss her to be plucked by the gossips, eh? She's free
of you! You got your English and your Germans here to point their bills,
and stretch their necks, and hiss, if this gentleman--and your
newspapers!--if he didn't give up to you like a funky traveller to a
highwayman. I remember a tale of a clumsy Turpin, who shot himself when
he was drawing the pistol out of his holsters to frighten the money-bag
out of a market farmer. You've done about the same, you Richmond; and, of
all the damned poor speeches I ever heard from a convicted felon, yours
is the worst--a sheared sheep'd ha' done it more respectably, grant the
beast a tongue! The lady is free of you, I tell you. Harry has to thank
you for that kindness. She--what is it, Janet? Never mind, I've got the
story--she didn't want to marry; but this prince, who called on me just
now, happened to be her father's nominee, and he heard of your
scoundrelism, and he behaved li