would hinder him from marrying her, and being
in clover ever after! He was tired of roving; they could go to the
city; he need not give up gaming, and--he really loved the girl; had
loved her since the day she had escaped from his snare.

Having arrived at this stage in his day-dream, he began to feel
buoyant. And when he heard from the Professor the result of Madeline's
visit to her step-father, his complacency was at high tide.

"It's all in a nutshell to me," said the Professor, as they smoked
their confidential cigars in the privacy of Lucian's own room. "Mind,
I don't suppose she _is_ up to our game; she can't be, you know; but
she is pretty thoroughly convinced that what she thinks is his
insanity, is but temporary."

"How do you know that?" interrupted Lucian, sharply.

"Not from anything _she_ said; I had very few words with her. But look
here, Davlin, isn't this a clear case enough? When I went up to see
the old fool, after their interview, I find him in a paroxysm of rage.
Of course he makes his complaint; his _ravings_ informed me of this:
She told him that she did not really think him very crazy herself, but
two doctors _did_, and she didn't feel called to dispute them. She
told him that he could not prove himself sane in any court in America;
and that he, being insane, was dead in law; and she was going to
choose another guardian."

Lucian Davlin fairly bounded from the chair. "That's it!" he
ejaculated under his breath.

"Then," pursues the Professor, puffing away tranquilly, "she comes
straight from this interview and meets me, to whom she says that, 'It
is a most deplorable and dangerous case; that he is really liable to
attack me or Henry at any moment; that I must take every precaution
and guard against his sudden attack, even if I were forced to confine
him still more closely; and that she had suspected him of partial
insanity long ago.' Now, what do you think of that?"

Precisely what he thought it was not Mr. Davlin's intention to tell.
One idea, however, he expressed promptly enough: "I think," he said,
leaning a little forward and looking full at his companion, "that you
had better take the advice of Miss Payne. Confine him close, the
closer the better; but don't drug him any more at present!"

The Professor nodded serenely as he said: "Right, quite right. Just
what I was about to suggest."

He might have added that he had resolved upon taking the course
indicated, even if the suggestio