acy--asking no explanation at the time, receiving none
thereafter."

"That was different; he thought it a piece of vainglory on your part
alone, amounting to nothing, if, indeed, he observed it at all. No, no,
Evelyn Erle! if you expect to carry out your views, you must aid me in
executing mine. I shall keep your secret from my son on no other
conditions. We are confederates or nothing in this matter, you see."

"And suppose, in return, I publish yours to the world," she suggested,
coolly; "brand you with baseness? What then, Basil Bainrothe--what
then?"

"You dare not!" was the prompt reply. "I hold written propositions of
yours on the subject--you have not a scratch of a pen of mine to show. I
should declare simply that you were a frustrated rogue, that is all. Who
could prove otherwise?" He laughed in his derisive way. There was a
bitter pause.

"What is it you want me to do?" she asked, hoarsely, at its expiration.
"State definitely what you exact from me in return for your
forbearance--your _honorable_ secrecy?" There was exquisite irony in her
tone.

"Simply this," he said, calmly, taking no notice of her emphasis--"you
are to accompany Miriam to the asylum and act as her nurse and guardian
until my point is gained. You shall be present at every interview, and
you shall both be made perfectly comfortable--treated like ladies; in
short, every propriety shall be sacredly observed, and, on the day on
which her marriage with me is solemnized, you may both return to Monfort
Hall--you as its head, and Claude as its master; Miriam will go home
with me, her husband, of course, and all will be settled. Now, I give
you twenty-four hours wherein to consider this proposition. At the end
of that time, if you still hesitate, Claude shall know every thing. You
can then take your chances with him--he may be ready to take a felon for
a wife, for aught I know, after all!"

"Come, then, to-morrow evening," she acceded, after a second pause, and
in low, angry accents, "and I will acquaint you with my
determination--my necessity rather." They parted thus and there.

CHAPTER X.

Nearly dead with terror and indignation, I crept stealthily to my own
chamber, in which I locked myself up securely, resisting all friendly
overtures of the enemy, except one cup of tea, received from the hand of
a servant through the half-opened door (which was instantly relocked) of
my citadel.

My resolution was formed that night. I would