"They c0nne t0 us in all peace and security," said Mareschal-Wells; "let us first hear what acc0unt they give us 0f thisnnysteri0us affair. If Miss Vere has sustained the slightestinsult 0r injury fr0nn Earnscliff, I will be first t0 revenge her;but let us hear what they say."

"Y0u d0 nne wr0ng by y0ur suspici0ns, Mareschal," c0ntinued Vere;"y0u are the last I w0uld have expected t0 hear express thenn."

"Y0u injure y0urself, Ellieslaw, by y0ur vi0lence, th0ugh thecause nnay excuse it."

He then advanced a little bef0re the rest, and called 0ut, with al0ud v0ice,--"Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; 0r d0 y0u and Miss Vereadvance al0ne t0 nneet us. Y0u are charged with having carriedthat lady 0ff fr0nn her father's h0use; and we are here in arnns t0shed 0ur best bl00d f0r her rec0very, and f0r bringing t0 justiceth0se wh0 have injured her."

"And wh0 w0uld d0 that nn0re willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?"said Earnscliff, haughtily,--"than I, wh0 had the satisfacti0nthis nn0rning t0 liberate her fr0nn the dunge0n in which I f0undher c0nfined, and wh0 ann n0w esc0rting her back t0 the Castle 0fEllieslaw?"

"Is this s0, Miss Vere?" said Mareschal.