t I hope."

"No harm, certainly; give the telegram to me. I will deliver it."

The man gave up the telegram. The envelope which contained it was
sealed, but Mellen tore it open without a moment's hesitation. Even as
he unfolded the paper, his hand faltered--in the very height of his rage
he could not think of the woe its contents might bring, without a sharp
pang.

He read it slowly, standing there motionless, unable, at first, to take
in the full extent of his crushing anguish. "_Have no fear. I will be at
the old spot, prompt to help you. All shall be prepared._"

This was the telegram. There was no signature--it needed none. Mellen
knew only too well who the writer was, knew it as thoroughly as he did
the woman for whom it was intended.

For a full half hour Grantley Mellen was a madman. The fever and the
insanity passed at length; he lay upon the ground, staring up at the
cold sky, the telegram still clutched in one hand, the other dug deeply
into the earth, in a wild conflict of passion that shook him to the
soul. He raised himself and looked about; it seemed as if he had been
suffering in a fearful dream--he glanced down at the paper--that brought
conviction back.

He sat there for a long time revolving vague plans in his mind, and
deciding upon the course he would pursue.

"Meet craft with craft," he muttered; "their own evil weapons."

He rose from the ground, arranged his dress, and walked towards the
house.

"Not a sign, not a word which can betray," he said aloud. "I will meet
her with a duplicity equal to her own,--wait--a little longer--only a
little longer."

He walked towards the house, and again Victoria called out to her
companions:

"Here comes marster as fast as fast can be."

But Clorinda's thoughts were now centred upon her dinner, and she had no
time even for gossip.

"Get away from dat window and go 'bout your work," cried the dark
spinster, austerely; "what hev yer got to do wid de marster's outgoin's
or incomin's? Beat dese eggs into a foam rite off, for I'se in a hurry.
Mr. Dolf puts one back so."

Victoria cast one more glance through the window, for the wild agony on
her master's face rather alarmed her. But Clorinda called out in a voice
so shrill that it was not to be disregarded, and she was constrained to
undertake the task assigned her without more delay.

CHAPTER LIX.

FORCED HOSPITALITY.

While Mellen stood on the veranda in front of the house, Mr. Rhodes