grasped Henry's
hand; "I am glad to see you. But how pale and thin you look!"

"Good reason for it, my dear sir. I was on board of the Chalmetta."

"Were you, indeed! Thank God, you escaped with life! Were you much
injured?"

"I was, but, thanks to the care of a good physician, I am nearly
restored again."

"But our poor lady--Miss Dumont--have you any tidings of her? Report
said she was lost in the catastrophe."

"She is safe, though, unfortunately, at present in bad hands;" and Henry
related to the astonished minister the events of Emily's history since
her departure from Bellevue, not concealing even the details of his
present relations with her.

"And now, my dear sir," said he, rising to depart, "the crisis has come.
Dr. Vaudelier waits close by, and we are ready to witness the denouement
of this climax of plots. It is already time for Jerome and Emily to
arrive, and we desire your immediate presence at the mansion-house."

"I will attend you. But I have in the house several friends of Miss
Dumont--"

"Bring them all with you," interrupted Henry, looking at his watch.
"The more witnesses the better, especially if they be friends."

"But wait till I tell you who they are."

"Excuse me, Mr. Faxon, I must not tarry longer. I will meet them at the
mansion."

CHAPTER XXX.

"What devil's here, dragging the dead to life,
To overthrow me?"

"Who art thou?
Speak! speak!"

"The features all are changed,
But the voice grows familiar on my ears."

LOVELL

Jaspar Dumont was seated in the library. The ravages of care and vice
were growing more plainly visible on his face. His countenance was
haggard, and his complexion seemed to be a struggle between the wanness
of care and the redness of intemperance.

Near him sat De Guy, who had but just arrived.

"The lady has come," said the attorney, adjusting his green spectacles;
"and I am here to claim the fulfilment of our contract."

Jaspar looked up from the floor, upon which his eyes had been fastened,
and gazed with a fixed stare upon his companion.

"You do not understand me," insinuated De Guy.

"I do," said Jaspar, sternly; "I do; you have come to plunder me."

"You do me injustice, my kind friend; I come to save you from the doom
of a felon."

"To put your foot upon my neck, and leap out of the pit your villany has
dug!"

"Very well, my dear sir, if you are of this mind, my course is plain.
Did