the scrape, and remove the stain from the name of
the fair heiress."

"How can you do it?"

"That's the point."

"Looks rather complicated."

"Exactly so; but energy and skill will accomplish wonders."

"Very true," replied Vernon, in his usual quiet manner, well knowing
that Maxwell would take the alarm if he appeared in the least
inquisitive,--so he contented himself with this simple ejaculation.

"Can I trust you still?" said Maxwell, in a low tone, and with an
anxious look, after a pause of several minutes.

"I care not whether you trust me or not," replied Vernon, with
characteristic indifference.

"Are you the man you were two months ago? If you are, I need ask no more
questions."

"I am. And now let me tell you, if you have work for me, the pay must be
liberal. I have reformed in one respect, and that is from low prices to
high ones. I have done too many of your little chores for nothing. Good
pay is my motto now."

"Be it so," replied Maxwell, whose suspicions, as Vernon had intended,
were diverted by this by-talk. "I will pay you well. If my plan
succeeds, three thousand."

"Good! that sounds liberal. But suppose it fail?"

"It cannot fail."

"What is the plan? You mean to help old Jaspar out of the scrape, and
save the girl too. How can you do it?"

"There is only one way--marry the girl!"

"Just so," replied Vernon, with an indifference it was hard to assume.

"Here are the whole details of the plan. I have Jaspar's consent to my
marriage with the girl, but I dare not attempt to consummate the scheme
in the city. She is so cursed obstinate, that it is a hard matter to
manage her. I saw Jaspar last night, and we concluded to have the
ceremony performed at Bellevue, as soon as possible, or that fiery son
of Mars and your worthy patriarch will be down upon us, and spoil the
whole."

"Never fear them," said Vernon. "You will not proceed for a week or
two?"

"A week or so will make no difference. But I am afraid it will take more
time than that to induce her to consent. The difficulty which has
troubled me more than any other is to get her to Bellevue. She tells
Dido that she will not go alive. She fears Jaspar more than she does me,
and rightly suspects that if she yields she will have to encounter
both. She has not seen me since the row at the wood-yard, and I intend
to transact all business with her through De Guy."

"She is a difficult case," suggested Vernon, to fill up a pause in
M