If my poor darling had only plucked up courage and
told me all, the hour we were man and wife, she would have learned how
dearly I loved her, and it would have saved you both many unhappy
years."

Tears of gratitude stood in Harker's eyes, as he returned the handclasp.

"Heaven bless you, John," he murmured. "Not many men would be so
merciful. We will never speak of this again. You will not repent your
generosity."

"What are you going to do?" asked Ashford; struck by something unusual
in the old man's voice.

"I am going back to London," said Harker, smiling grimly, as in
anticipation of a pleasant task. "I have work to do, an account to
settle now--for Lucy and myself. You don't know all yet, John; you don't
know, you never will know, all that Lucy and I have suffered."

He paused as if overcome by his emotion; then continued in trembling
voice:

"We have been slaves all these years, trembling and shrinking under a
villain's nod and frown. I've sold myself to a demon, who, in
consideration of my services--of my body and soul--promised to keep his
talons from my poor Lucy. He discovered her mistake; and he threatened
to let the whole world know, to tell you all, if I did not bind myself
to do his villainous work. I have done it for years. I have endured
shame and agony unspeakable, that my darling's secret might be safe. I
have been his tool and his scapegoat. I, an old man, on my way to the
grave, have earned--and rightly earned--the names of usurer and thief.
All this I have done and suffered that he should never blight my child's
happiness by his presence. He has broken the contract. He came down here
that night you went to Richmond, and, with his fiendish ways and
threats, nearly killed her. Well, now his power has gone. Thanks to your
generosity, your forgiveness, Lucy is free, and I am free. Now I take my
turn, and for every tear he has wrung from my darling's eyes, I will
wring a groan from his black heart."

John had listened to him with intense surprise. He knew his
father-in-law was in business in the City; but he did not know that the
business of "Harker's," for which he had a great respect, had anything
to do with moneylending. Still he refrained from asking any questions;
and seeing that Mr. Harker was practically exhausted by the excitement
and the news, persuaded him to spend the remainder of the night with
them, and travel back to town in the morning.

After reflection the old man agreed to th