t man?'

'Information!' repeated Harriet.

'What if I had found out one who knew your brother's secret; who knew
the manner of his flight, who knew where he and the companion of his
flight were gone? What if I had made him utter all his knowledge, word
by word, before his enemy, concealed to hear it? What if I had sat by at
the time, looking into this enemy's face, and seeing it change till it
was scarcely human? What if I had seen him rush away, mad, in pursuit?
What if I knew, now, that he was on his road, more fiend than man, and
must, in so many hours, come up with him?'

'Remove your hand!' said Harriet, recoiling. 'Go away! Your touch is
dreadful to me!'

'I have done this,' pursued the other, with her eager look, regardless
of the interruption. 'Do I speak and look as if I really had? Do you
believe what I am saying?'

'I fear I must. Let my arm go!'

'Not yet. A moment more. You can think what my revengeful purpose must
have been, to last so long, and urge me to do this?'

'Dreadful!' said Harriet.

'Then when you see me now,' said Alice hoarsely, 'here again, kneeling
quietly on the ground, with my touch upon your arm, with my eyes upon
your face, you may believe that there is no common earnestness in what
I say, and that no common struggle has been battling in my breast. I
am ashamed to speak the words, but I relent. I despise myself; I have
fought with myself all day, and all last night; but I relent towards him
without reason, and wish to repair what I have done, if it is possible.
I wouldn't have them come together while his pursuer is so blind and
headlong. If you had seen him as he went out last night, you would know
the danger better.

'How can it be prevented? What can I do?' cried Harriet.

'All night long,' pursued the other, hurriedly, 'I had dreams of
him--and yet I didn't sleep--in his blood. All day, I have had him near
me.

'What can I do?' cried Harriet, shuddering at these words.

'If there is anyone who'll write, or send, or go to him, let them lose
no time. He is at Dijon. Do you know the name, and where it is?'

'Yes.'

'Warn him that the man he has made his enemy is in a frenzy, and that he
doesn't know him if he makes light of his approach. Tell him that he is
on the road--I know he is!--and hurrying on. Urge him to get away while
there is time--if there is time--and not to meet him yet. A month or
so will make years of difference. Let them not encounter, through me.
Any