you, then."

"Well, that's the truth," said the priest, "and I know it. But why did
you not wish to see me?" he inquired; "you must have had some reason for
it."

"I had my suspicions."

"You had, Anthony; and you've had the same suspicions this many a long
year--ever since the day I saw you pass through the hall in the private
mad-house in--."

"Was that the time Mr. Quin was there? asked Anthony, unconsciously
committing himself from the very apprehension of doing so by giving a
direct answer to the question.

"Ah! ha! Anthony, then you knew Mr. Quin was there. That will do; but
there's not the slightest use in beating about the bush any longer. You
have within the last half-hour let your secret out, within my own
ears, and before my own eyes. And so you have a pension from the Black
Baronet; and you, an old man, and I fear a guilty one, are receiving the
wages of iniquity and corruption from that man--from the man that first
brought shame and everlasting disgrace, and guilt and madness into and
upon your family and name--a name that had been without a stain before.
Yes; you have sold yourself as a slave--a bond-slave--have become the
creature and instrument of his vices--the clay in his hands that he can
mould as he pleases, and that he will crush and trample on, and shiver
to pieces, the moment his cruel, unjust, and diabolical purposes are
served."

Anthony's face was a study, but a fearful study, whilst the priest
spoke. As the reverend gentleman went on, it darkened into the
expression of perfect torture; he gasped and started as if every word
uttered had given him a mortal stab; his keen old eye nickered with
scintillations of unnatural and turbid fire, until the rebuke was ended.

The priest had observed this, and naturally imputed the feeling to an
impression of remorse, not, it is true, unmingled with indignation. We
may imagine his surprise, therefore, on seeing that face suddenly change
into one of the wildest and most malignant delight. A series of dry,
husky hiccoughs, or what is termed the black laugh, rapidly repeated,
proceeded from between his thin jaws, and his eyes now blazed with an
expression of such fiery and triumphant vengeance, that the other felt
as if some fiendish incarnation of malignity, and not a man, sat before
him.

"Crush me!" he exclaimed, "crush me, indeed! Wait a little. What have I
been doin' all this time? I tell you that I have been every day for this
many a long yea