ng undermined by one to whom you have ever been kind, but who, I am
sure, you would not wish to become your son-in-law, though he has the
audacity--if I may be allowed so strong an expression--to aspire after your
daughter's hand! Having nothing of his own to recommend him, and knowing
that I am in his way, he does not cease to traduce me to your daughter on
every occasion, and I fear the insidious poison of his oily tongue has
already had a serious effect on her mind, which, if not put an end to, will
turn her good opinion of me into dislike or even aversion. Why it was but a
few days ago that he and another fellow, a stranger in these parts, and a
very suspicious-looking chap, had a conference in private, of, to say the
best of it, a very sinister character; and, would you believe it, this
fellow disguised himself so as to appear the very personation of myself?

"I was struck dumb, sir, when these facts were put in my possession by one
of my workmen, who happened to see the villains and overhear a part of
their talk. But the worst of the story remains to be told. Either by chance
or design--and with the facts in the case I leave you to determine
which--these confederates placed themselves near a bower to which your
daughter had resorted but a few minutes previously, so that she, however
unwillingly, must have heard a good portion of what passed between them!
Only think of it! She for whom I would sacrifice all else, beholding me, as
she must suppose, under such criminal aspects!"

This most artfully told tale was not without its effect upon the father. He
believed it: how could he help it when so strongly corroborated by what his
daughter had previously told him? At the conclusion of it, he demanded,
with something of vehemence in his manner:

"Who was the despicable villain that thus dared to plot against the
interest of my family?"

"Ah, there is the difficulty," said Duffel, craftily. "I fear to divulge
names for several reasons. In the first place, I know you cannot but feel
highly indignant, and will desire to punish the criminal as he deserves;
but I have no proof that will stand in law, and--!"

"Will not the testimony of my daughter added to yours be sufficient to
convict the rascal, I'd like to know?"

"You forget that your daughter's testimony would criminate me--that she
must fully believe it was I, and no other, that was in conversation with
the stranger; for I am told that the disguise was perfect, so