n intimate of a man whom she despised.

"Miss Dumont," said Maxwell, growing desperate at the lady's silence,
"perhaps I have offended in some manner. If I have, it was
unintentional, and I trust you will forgive me."

"O, no, sir, not at all!" exclaimed Emily, mollified, in spite of
herself, by the humility of the attorney. "There is no offence, and no
apology is necessary."

"I am greatly relieved by this assurance, and, with your leave, will
proceed with my narrative."

Maxwell now entered into a relation of the history of the will, but
studiously avoided imparting a single fact with which she was not
already acquainted. All this he had related with a lawyer's skill, to
awaken her curiosity and interest, and to remove by distance any
unpleasant suspicions which might have been awakened in her mind in
regard to his motives.

To all he said Emily listened with profound attention, momentarily
expecting the development of the foul plot. But thus far Jaspar Dumont
is as pure as an angel,--nothing is disclosed. In this manner half an
hour passed away, and Emily was no wiser than at first.

Maxwell has now, with an adroitness peculiar to the successful lawyer,
made _himself_ the subject of his remarks. He is careful that she shall
know how sagacious he has been in discovering the facts he has not yet
revealed. He tells her how many weary days and nights he has spent in
searching out the truth; what wonderful intelligence of his had
converted the shadow of a suspicion into the reality of an
incontrovertible conviction; how a single word he casually overheard has
been followed through weary days and dismal nights, till he has arrived,
with all the evidence in his hands, at the truth!

Emily was certainly grateful for the deep interest he had manifested in
her behalf, and she expressed her gratitude with modest earnestness.

"But, Miss Dumont," continued Maxwell, "I could not thus have sacrificed
myself for every client. My health and strength, under ordinary
circumstances, would have given way, and the case have been lost."

"Indeed, sir, you may rely on the fullest and most substantial
acknowledgment for the service you have rendered. My purse shall be
entirely at your disposal," responded Emily, warmly and innocently.

"Money, Miss Dumont, would not have tempted me to make the sacrifice of
health and comfort which this exertion has required of me. I have done
all my humble talents would permit from a higher motiv