.

"Are they safe?" said he.

"As safe as your jail-walls can make them. Your plan was a clumsy one,
but I _forced_ it to succeed."

"Did they not enter without scruple?"

"Yes, but the sentinel."

"Pshaw! did you not know she would desert her post? If she saw not
danger, she would fear none in the day-time,--it is woman-like."

"Not always; but it matters not; they are safe. Now to business."

"Business!" exclaimed Jaspar, with a start, and a wild stare at the
attorney. "The business is done."

"Not all of it. There are other enemies in the field."

"What mean you?" said Jaspar, alarmed. "Are we not safe yet?"

"Not quite," replied the smooth attorney, with a quiet smile. "The game
you played was a deep one, and you must needs persevere to the end."

"Explain yourself, man; don't trifle with me," said Jaspar, roused by
the smooth smile of the attorney; for that smile seemed to him full of
meaning.

"All in good time, my dear sir. Let me beg of you not to be discomposed
by anything I may say to you."

Jaspar sneered, but ventured no reply.

"I have served you faithfully, you must acknowledge."

"I will acknowledge nothing," said Jaspar, testily.

"The steamer exploded, you remember," returned De Guy, with an
expression of sly humor, which Jaspar did not appreciate.

"I do remember it, by Heaven! But this villanous Dalhousie says my niece
was not known to have been killed."

"Exactly so."

"Sir! Do you mean to say that you _know_ she was not lost?"

"Precisely so."

"By ----! Sir, you have been making a merit of this very thing."

"True, but policy, policy! You will recollect you were not in a
particularly amiable mood when I had the honor to introduce myself this
morning. It was necessary to conciliate you, and my plan succeeded
admirably. Besides, I blowed up the steamer with the intention of
serving you, and I ought to have the credit of my good intentions!"

"And a pretty mess you have made of it!"

"Did the best that could be done, under the circumstances."

"The game is up! I may as well hang myself, at once."

"The very worst thing you could possibly do. A long life of happiness
and usefulness is yet before you, provided you follow my advice."

"Your advice!" sneered Jaspar.

"I shall have the pleasure of convincing you that my advice will be the
best that could possibly be given to a man in your condition."

"The girl is alive, is she?" muttered Jaspar, heedless of the smooth