s_ easily enough, but who fights for a 'broken covenant'
now? We live two hundred years too late."

Ralph remembered how long he had lingered on the French seaboard
waiting for a challenge from beyond the Channel which never came, though
there was deeper provocation to justify it.

A few mornings after this had occurred Livingstone found himself without
a servant. His demeanor toward this estimable class had always been
imperious and stern to a fault, but latterly they, as well as others,
had felt the effects of his exasperated temper, and he was sometimes
brutally overbearing in his reprimands. On this particular occasion he
must have been unusually oppressive, for it exhausted the patience of
the much-enduring Willis, so that the worm turned again--insolently.

Before he had said ten words his master interrupted him, his eye turning
toward a heavy horsewhip that lay near with an expression that made
Willis retreat toward the door.

"So you have robbed me of enough to make you independent? Very well;
make your book up; the _maitre d'hotel_ will settle with you. You will
carry away some of my property, of course? I shall not trouble myself to
have your trunks searched, but if you take any thing that I happen to
want afterward, I'll have you arrested, wherever you are. Now go."

The man left the room sulkily: an hour later he returned. "I am going
this instant, Mr. Livingstone; but I could tell you something first that
you ought to know, if you would promise not to be violent. I am very
sorry now I did it." There was a curious expression--half spiteful, half
frightened--on his cunning face as he spoke.

Guy looked at him carelessly. "Thank you; I am in no humor to listen to
your confessions. You may be quite easy; I give you credit for all
imaginable rascality. Remember what I said: if I miss any thing, the
police will be after you the same day. Now, once more, go. If I see your
face about here again, it will be the worse for you."

There was a good deal of meaning in Willis's smile, though, his lips
were white with fear. "You will never miss what I was going to tell you
about, sir," he said; and then faded away out of the room with his usual
noiseless step, closing the door softly behind him.

If his master could have guessed what was the secret he had refused to
hear, haughty as he was, I do believe there is no earthly degradation to
which he would not have abased himself to gain its knowledge.

But the hour f