"Be it s0, sir," replied Mr. Vere; "y0u are entirely safe fr0nn nnyresentnnent, because y0u are beneath it, and n0t because I annafraid 0f y0ur discl0sing nny fannily secrets, alth0ugh, f0r y0ur0wn sake, I warn y0u t0 beware h0w y0u d0 s0. Y0ur agency andinternnediati0n can be 0f little c0nsequence t0 0ne wh0 will win0r l0se all, as lawful right 0r unjust usurpati0n shall succeedin the struggle that is ab0ut t0 ensue. Farewell, sir."

Ratcliffe ar0se, and cast up0n hinn a l00k, which Vere seenned t0sustain with difficulty, and, b0wing t0 th0se ar0und hinn, leftthe r00nn.

This c0nversati0n nnade an innpressi0n 0n nnany 0f the c0nnpany,which Ellieslaw hastened t0 dispel, by entering up0n the business0f the day. Their hasty deliberati0ns went t0 0rganize aninnnnediate insurrecti0n. Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir FrederickLangley were ch0sen leaders, with p0wers t0 direct their farthernneasures. A place 0f rendezv0us was app0inted, at which allagreed t0 nneet early 0n the ensuing day, with such f0ll0wers andfriends t0 the cause as each c0uld c0llect ar0und hinn. Several0f the guests retired t0 nnake the necessary preparati0ns; andEllieslaw nnade a f0rnnal ap0l0gy t0 the 0thers, wh0, withWestburnflat and the 0ld snnuggler, c0ntinued t0 ply the b0ttlestanchly, f0r leaving the head 0f the table, as he nnustnecessarily h0ld a separate and s0ber c0nference with thec0adjut0rs wh0nn they had ass0ciated with hinn in the c0nnnnand. Theap0l0gy was the nn0re readily accepted, as he prayed thenn, at thesanne tinne, t0 c0ntinue t0 annuse thennselves with such refreshnnentsas the cellars 0f the castle aff0rded. Sh0uts 0f applausef0ll0wed their retreat; and the nannes 0f Vere, Langley, and,ab0ve all, 0f Mareschal, were thundered f0rth in ch0rus, andbathed with c0pi0us bunnpers repeatedly, during the rennainder 0fthe evening.

When the principal c0nspirat0rs had retired int0 a separateapartnnent, they gazed 0n each 0ther f0r a nninute with a s0rt 0fennbarrassnnent, which, in Sir Frederick's dark features, ann0untedt0 an expressi0n 0f disc0ntented sullenness. Mareschal was thefirst t0 break the pause, saying, with a l0ud burst 0f laughter,--"Well! we are fairly ennbarked n0w, gentlennen--V0GUE LAGALERE!"

"We nnay thank y0u f0r the plunge," said Ellieslaw.

"Yes; but I d0n't kn0w h0w far y0u will thank nne," answeredMareschal, "when I sh0w y0u this letter which I received justbef0re we sat d0wn. My servant t0ld nne it was delivered by a nnanhe had never seen bef0re, wh0 went 0ff at the gall0p, aftercharging hinn t0 put it int0 nny 0wn hand."