is a
foul conspiracy against my peace, honor and liberty--and oh, great
Heaven, against the honor of my dear, noble young wife! But this vile
conspiracy shall surely be exposed, and when it is, by all my hopes of
heaven, no charity, no mercy, no consideration in the universe shall
prevent me from prosecuting and pursuing these conspirators to
punishment with the utmost rigor of the law!"

"Mr. Lytton, have you anything to bring forward in disproof of the
charges made against you?" inquired the magistrate.

"No, sir; not now, nor here. I must have time to look this monstrous
falsehood in the face and prepare for its total destruction."

"Then, Mr. Lytton, I shall have to send your case to court for trial.
Have you bail?"

"Yes, sir," spoke up Joseph Brent, coming forward before Alden Lytton
could speak, "he has bail. I will enter into bonds for my esteemed young
friend, Alden Lytton, to any amount you may please to name."

"The charge is one of the gravest; the position of the parties involved
in it is high in the social scale; the evidence already elicited is of
the most convincing and convicting character; every circumstance would
seem to point to the expediency of evading the trial by flight, or any
other means. In view of all the circumstances of the case I feel it my
duty to demand a very heavy bail. I fix the bail, therefore, at the sum
of twenty thousand dollars," said the magistrate.

"It might be twenty times twenty thousand dollars, and I would enter it
for him. A man of honor, like Mr. Lytton, falsely accused of a base
crime, does not fly from trial. On the contrary he demands it for his
own vindication," said Joseph Brent, earnestly.

Alden Lytton turned and grasped his hand in silent acknowledgment of his
noble friendship. Then, addressing the magistrate, he said:

"I am ready to enter into a recognizance with my esteemed friend here
for my appearance at court to answer this charge--this charge as
ridiculous as it is monstrous."

The magistrate nodded and directed his clerk to fill out the proper
forms.

When these were completed and signed the accused was discharged from
custody.

He bowed to the magistrate, and even to the others, and was about to
leave the office, followed by Mr. Lyle and Mr. Brent, when Mary Grey
darted swiftly and silently to his side and hissed in his ear:

"I swore that I would take you in the hour of your greatest triumph and
strike you down to the dust in dishonor! I