my leetle pills--" and he hesitated, or
affected to do so.

"Enough--I waive all apologies; they only prolong an interview
singularly distasteful to me for many reasons. You are behind the
curtain, I cannot doubt, and understand not only the contents of that
absurd letter, but its unprincipled references. To Basil Bainrothe I
will never address one line; but you may say to him that I scorn him and
his conditions. Yet, helpless as I am, and in his hands, tell him to
bring his emancipation papers, and I will sign them, though they cost me
all I possess of property. My sister I will not surrender any longer to
his care, nor my right in her, which, with or without his consent, is
perfect when I reach my majority. As to the suitor to whom he alluded,
he had better be allowed to speak for himself when this transaction is
over. I shall then decide very calmly on his merits, tarnished, as these
might seem, from such recommendation."

"He is one who has loved you long, lady," said the man, sadly, speaking
ever in that made and husky voice (wonderful actor that he was by
nature!), which he sustained so well that, had I not unmistakably
identified him, it might have imposed on my ear as real. "Hear what has
been written on this subject: When others have forsaken you and left you
to your fate, he has continued faithful to your memory. The revelation
of your immurement was made simultaneously to two men who called
themselves your lovers, and its sad necessity explained by your
ever-watchful guardian. One of these lovers repudiated your claims upon
him, and turned coldly from the idea of uniting his fate to that of one
who had even for an hour been a suspected lunatic; the other declared
himself willing to take her as she was to his arms, even though her own
were loaded with the chains of a mad-house! Penniless and abandoned by
all the world, and with a clouded name, he woos her as his wife--the
woman he adores!"

And, as he read, or seemed to read, these words, with scarce an accent
to mar their impetuous flow, Dr. Englehart drew in his breath with the
hissing sound of passion, and folded his arms tightly across his padded
breast, as if they enfolded the bride he was suing for in another's
name.

"And who, let me ask, is this Paladin of chivalry?" I inquired,
derisively. "Give me his name, that I may consider the subject well and
thoroughly before we meet at last."

"Excuse me if I refuse to give the name of eider of dese gen