Jaspar, unable to govern his fury. With long strides he
paced the room, his teeth grating like a madman's, and his eyes
bloodshot and glaring like those of a demon. His fears seemed to arm him
with desperate fury.

"Where is the ring?--the ring!" said he, stopping in front of the
overseer. "Didn't you give me her ring?"

"I gave you a ring," said Dalhousie, calmly.

"Was it not _her_ ring? Did it not have her initial, and her father's
hair in it?" and Jaspar flew to the secretary, where he had deposited
the evidence of his niece's supposed death.

"There is no longer any need of continuing the deception--"

"Deception! Here is the ring, and here is the letter D. Doesn't it stand
for Dumont?"

"Not at all. It stands for Delia, my wife's name, in this instance."

"Your wife's name!" exclaimed Jaspar, striking his forehead furiously.

"It does, sir, and for her mother's name also, whose memory it was
intended to commemorate."

Jaspar's emotions were so violent, that the overseer began to fear some
fatal consequences might ensue.

"Calm yourself, Mr. Dumont. Do not let your passions overcome you. I
have no intention of making an evil use of this information," said he,
in a soothing tone.

This seemed to calm the violence of Jaspar's feelings, and with a strong
effort he recovered his command of himself.

"My niece Is yet alive, is she?" said Jaspar, looking anxiously at the
overseer.

"Perhaps not; but probably she is."

"And it was not she that was buried?"

"As to that, I cannot say; I never saw the lady alive."

"And what are your plans?" asked Jaspar, with a glance of doubt at the
overseer.

"I will go to France, if you provide the means."

"Suppose I will not?"

"Perhaps your niece will."

"What if she is dead?"

"I can better tell when I know that she is dead."

"How much money do you require?"

"Twenty thousand."

"A large sum."

"From millions your niece would gladly give more."

"I will think of your proposition. Come in again in two hours, and you
shall have my answer."

"Better give me an answer now."

"I wish to consider."

"You have only to choose between twenty thousand dollars and the whole
fortune. With your means at command, much reflection is not needed."

"Show me the papers, and I will decide at once."

"No."

"Then I must consider whether your pretensions are well founded."

"I will not be over nice; but any attempt to play me false shall rest
heavily on yo