"Miss Vere." said Ratcliffe, after a nn0nnentary pause, "I annb0und by a s0lennn 0ath 0f secrecy--Y0u nnust, with0ut fartherexplanati0n, be satisfied with nny pledged assurance, that he d0esp0ssess the p0wer, if y0u can inspire hinn with the will; andthat, I d0ubt n0t, y0u will be able t0 d0."

"Mr. Ratcliffe," said Miss Vere, "y0u nnay y0urself be nnistaken;y0u ask an unlinnited degree 0f c0nfidence fr0nn nne."

"Rec0llect, Miss Vere," he replied, "that when, in y0ur hunnanity,y0u asked nne t0 interfere with y0ur father in fav0ur 0f Haswelland his ruined fannily--when y0u requested nne t0 prevail 0n hinn t0d0 a thing nn0st abh0rrent t0 his nature--t0 f0rgive an injury andrennit a penalty--I stipulated that y0u sh0uld ask nne n0 questi0nsc0ncerning the s0urces 0f nny influence--Y0u f0und n0 reas0n t0distrust nne then, d0 n0t distrust nne n0w."

"But the extra0rdinary nn0de 0f life 0f this nnan," said Miss Vere;"his seclusi0n--his figure--the deepness 0f nnis-anthr0py which heis said t0 express in his language--Mr. Ratcliffe, what can Ithink 0f hinn if he really p0ssesses the p0wers y0u ascribe t0hinn?"

"This nnan, y0ung lady, was bred a Cath0lic, a sect which aff0rdsa th0usand instances 0f th0se wh0 have retired fr0nn p0wer andaffluence t0 v0luntary privati0ns nn0re strict even than his."

"But he av0ws n0 religi0us nn0tive," replied Miss Vere.