said,

"You sent for me, Mr. Dumont?"

"I did," said Jaspar, suddenly, as though the words had roused him from
his profound abstraction; "I did; one of my keys is missing, so that I
cannot open the drawer. You arranged its contents, I believe."

"Yes," said Dalhousie, flustered, for he was not so deeply skilled in
the arts of deception as to carry them on without some compunction; "but
I left the key in the drawer."

"You see It is not there," said Jaspar, fixing his sharp gray eye upon
the overseer.

"It is not," said Dalhousie, advancing to the secretary. "Probably it
has fallen upon the floor--" and he stooped down to look for it.

Jaspar watched him in silence, as he felt about the floor. The overseer
was in no haste to find it, though his eyes were fixed on it all the
time.

"Didn't you put it into your pocket, by mistake?" suggested Jaspar.

"Certainly not," replied Dalhousie; "here it is;" and, picking up the
key, he handed it to Jaspar. "I was certain I left it here."

Jaspar felt much relieved.

"Sorry to have troubled you," said he, "but I wanted a paper--" and he
rose and opened the drawer, as if in quest of it.

"No trouble at all," returned the overseer. "Now that I am here, a few
words with you would be particularly agreeable to me."

Jaspar's curiosity was instantly excited, and, forgetting the paper and
De Guy, he requested him to proceed immediately with his business.

"It is a matter of much interest to both of us," continued Dalhousie,
embarrassed by the difficulties of his position.

"Well, sir, go on," said Jaspar, impatiently, for the overseer's
hesitation had rather a bad odor.

"I may as well speak bluntly and to the point," stammered Dalhousie,
still reluctant to state his business.

"Why don't you? I am not a sentimental girl, that you need make a long
preface to your oration."

"I will, sir. Every man is in duty bound to consider his own interest--"

"Certainly, by all means. Go on."

"In regard to your relations with your niece--" and Dalhousie paused
again.

Jaspar's reddening face and the curl upon his lip indicated the volcano
of passion which would soon burst within him.

"Proceed, sir," said he, struggling to be calm.

"In regard to your relations with your niece, you are aware that I am
somewhat acquainted with them."

"I am; I hope you do not know too much for your own good. You know I am
not to be trifled with."

"I am not concerned for my own safety," r