did he know that? I never told him. I meant indeed--"

"Meant, perhaps, to shame Egerton's pride at the last by publicly
declaring his marriage with a shopkeeper's daughter. A very good revenge
still left to you; but revenge for what? A word with you, now, Baron,
that our acquaintance is about to close forever. You know why I have
cause for resentment against Egerton. I do but suspect yours; will you
make it clear to me?"

"My Lord, my Lord," faltered Baron Levy, "I, too, wooed Nora Avenel as
my wife; I, too, had a happier rival in the haughty worldling who did
not appreciate his own felicity; I too--in a word, some women inspire an
affection that mingles with the entire being of a man, and is fused with
all the currents of his life-blood. Nora Avenel was one of those women."

Harley was startled. This burst of emotion from a man so corrupt and
cynical arrested even the scorn he felt for the usurer. Levy soon
recovered himself. "But our revenge is not baffled yet. Egerton, if not
already in my power, is still in yours. His election may save him from
arrest, but the law has other modes of public exposure and effectual
ruin."

"For the knave, yes,--as I intimated to you in your own house,--you who
boast of your love to Nora Avenel, and know in your heart that you were
her destroyer; you who witnessed her marriage, and yet dared to tell her
that she was dishonoured!"

"My Lord--I--how could you know--I mean, how think that--that--"
faltered Levy, aghast.

"Nora Avenel has spoken from her grave," replied Harley, solemnly.
"Learn that, wherever man commits a crime, Heaven finds a witness!"

"It is on me, then," said Levy, wrestling against a superstitious thrill
at his heart--"on me that you now concentre your vengeance; and I must
meet it as I may. But I have fulfilled my part of our compact. I have
obeyed you implicitly--and--"

"I will fulfil my part of our bond, and leave you undisturbed in your
wealth."

"I knew I might trust to your Lordship's honour," exclaimed the usurer,
in servile glee.

"And this vile creature nursed the same passions as myself; and but
yesterday we were partners in the same purpose, and influenced by the
same thought!" muttered Harley to himself. "Yes," he said aloud, "I
dare not, Baron Levy, constitute myself your judge. Pursue your own
path,--all roads meet at last before the common tribunal. But you are
not yet released from our compact; you must do some good in spite of
yourself