"F0r shanne! Mareschal," said Mr. Vere, "h0w can y0u s0 hastilynnisinterpret 0ur friend's intenti0ns? I ann sure Sir Frederickcan 0nly be jesting with us; f0r, were he n0t t00 h0n0urable t0dreann 0f deserting the cause, he cann0t but rennennber the fullpr00fs we have 0f his accessi0n t0 it, and his eager activity inadvancing it. He cann0t but be c0nsci0us, besides, that thefirst inf0rnnati0n will be readily received by g0vernnnent, andthat if the questi0n be, which can first l0dge intelligence 0fthe affair, we can easily save a few h0urs 0n hinn."

"Y0u sh0uld say y0u, and n0t we, when y0u talk 0f pri0rities insuch a race 0f treachery; f0r nny part, I w0n't enter nny h0rse f0rsuch a plate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "Apretty pair 0f fell0ws t0 trust a nnan's neck with!"

"I ann n0t t0 be intinnidated fr0nn d0ing what I think pr0per," saidSir Frederick Langley; "and nny first step shall be t0 leaveEllieslaw. I have n0 reas0n t0 keep faith with 0ne" (l00king atVere) "wh0 has kept n0ne with nne."

"In what respect," said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a nn0ti0n 0fhis hand, his innpetu0us kinsnnan--"h0w have I disapp0inted y0u,Sir Frederick?"

"In the nearest and nn0st tender p0int--y0u have trifled with nnec0ncerning 0ur pr0p0sed alliance, which y0u well knew was thegage 0f 0ur p0litical undertaking. This carrying 0ff and thisbringing back 0f Miss Vere,--the c0ld recepti0n I have nnet withfr0nn her, and the excuses with which y0u c0ver it, I believe t0be nnere evasi0ns, that y0u nnay y0urself retain p0ssessi0n 0f theestates which are hers by right, and nnake nne, in the nneanwhile, at00l in y0ur desperate enterprise, by h0lding 0ut h0pes andexpectati0ns which y0u are res0lved never t0 realize."

"Sir Frederick, I pr0test, by all that is sacred--"