he corrupt, the base-born, and the abandoned offered
their examples to my eyes; the ruined gambler, the beggared
adventurer,--_their_ lives were my daily study. How, then, should I not
recognize one so worthy of them all?"

"This is less than fair, Maritafia; you bear me a grudge for having
counselled that career wherein your triumphs were unbounded; and now
you speak to me harshly for offering a station a princess might accept
without a derogation."

"Tell me not of my triumphs," said she, passionately: "they were my
shame! You corrupted me, by trifling with my ignorance of the world. I
did not know then, as now I know, what were the prizes of that ambition
I cherished! But _you_ knew them; _you_ speculated on them, as now you
speculate upon others. Ay, blush for it; let your cheek glow, and sear
your cold heart for the infamy! The coroneted duchess would have been a
costlier merchandise than the wreathed dancer! Oh, shame upon you! shame
upon you! Could you not be satisfied with your gambler's cruelty, and
ruin those who have manhood's courage to sustain defeat, but that you
should make your victim a poor, weak, motherless girl, whose unprotected
life might have evoked even _your_ pity?"

"I will supplicate no longer; upon you be it if the alternative be
heavy. Hear me, young lady; it is by your father's consent--nay, more,
at his desire--that I make you the proffer of my name and rank. He is in
my power,--not his fortune nor his future prospects, but his very life
is in my hands. You shudder at having been a dancer; think of what you
may be,--the daughter of a forcat, a galley-slave! If these be idle
threats, ask himself; he will tell you if I speak truly. It is my
ambition that you should share my title and my fortune. I mean to make
your position one that the proudest would envy; reject my offer if
you will, but never reproach me with what your own blind folly has
accomplished."

Maritana stood with clasped hands, and eyes wildly staring on vacancy, as
Linton, in a voice broken with passion, uttered these words,--

"I will not press you now, Maritana; you shall have to-night to think
over all I have said; to-morrow you will give me your answer."

"To-morrow?" muttered she, after him.

"Who is there?" said Linton, as a low, faint knock was heard at the
door. It was repeated, and Linton approached and opened the door.
A slight gesture of the hand was all that he could perceive in the
half-light; but he unders