Linton!" said Rica, endeavoring to get nearest to the
door.

"What is not fair?" said the other, imperiously. "You told me awhile
ago that she must pronounce, herself, upon her own future. Well, I am
willing to leave it to that issue."

"But she is unfit to do so at present," said Rica, entreat-ingly.
"You know well how unsettled is her mind, and how wandering are her
faculties. There are moments when she scarcely knows _me_--her father."

"It is enough if she remember me," said Linton, insolently. "Her
intellects will recover--the cloud will pass away; and, if it should
not, still--as my wife, it is an object I have set my heart on; and so,
let me pass."

"I cannot--I will not peril her chances of recovery by such a shock,"
said Rica, firmly; then changing suddenly, he spoke in accents of
deep feeling: "Remember, Linton, how I offered you _her_ whom you
acknowledged you preferred. I told you the means of coercion in my
power, and pledged myself to use them. It was but two days since I
discovered where they were; to-morrow we will go there together. I
will claim her as my daughter; the laws of France are imperative in the
matter. Mary Leicester shall be yours."

"I care for her no longer," said Linton, haughtily. "I doubt, indeed, if
I ever cared for her; she is not one to suit my fortunes. Maritana is,
or at least may become so."

"Be it so, but not now, Linton; the poor child's reason is clouded."

"When she hears she is a duchess," said Linton, half sneeringly, "it
will dispel the gloomy vapor."

"I implore you--I entreat--on my knees I beg of you--" said the
distracted father, and, unable to utter more, he sank powerless at
Linton's feet; meanwhile the other opened the door, and, stepping
noiselessly over the prostrate figure, entered the room.

CHAPTER XXXVI. ARREST OF LINTON

Like a bold criminal he stood,
Calm in his guilt

The Forger.

With firm step and head high, Linton entered a room where the dim
half-light of the closed jalousies made each object indistinct. He
halted for an instant, to cast a searching glance around, and then
advanced to a door at the farthest end of the apartment; at this he
tapped twice gently with his knuckles. He waited for an instant, and
then repeated his summons. Still no answer, even though he rapped
a third time, and louder than before. Linton now turned the handle
noiselessly, and opened the door. For a moment or two he seemed
uncertain whe