o it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannot
but be conscious, besides, that the first information will be readily
received by government, and that if the question be, which can first
lodge intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours on
him."

"You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in such
a race of treachery; for my part, I won't enter my horse for such a
plate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "A pretty pair of
fellows to trust a man's neck with!"

"I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper," said Sir
Frederick Langley; "and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. I
have no reason to keep faith with one" (looking at Vere) "who has kept
none with me."

"In what respect," said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand,
his impetuous kinsman--"how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?"

"In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with me
concerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage of
our political undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back of
Miss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuses
with which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you may
yourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right,
and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise,
by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never to
realize."

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

"I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them too
long," answered Sir Frederick.

"If you leave us," said Ellieslaw, "you cannot but know both your ruin
and ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together."

"Leave me to take care of myself," returned the knight; "but were what
you say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther."

"Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?" said Ellieslaw,
anxiously; "this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicions
as an insult; but situated as we now are--"

"You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?" retorted Sir Frederick.
"If you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me of
it--let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening."

"So soon?--impossible," answered Vere; "think of her late alarm--of our
present undertaking."

"I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar.
You have a chapel in the