n Dorothy shall come to me on her
knees--to me, Storri, whom she has affronted! She shall beg my favor for
her father! What should be the ransom? Who shall measure my demands when
I have conquered? I, who am to have my neck twisted!--I, who am to be
beaten like a dog!--I shall name to her the terms. They shall be
ruin--ruin for her, ruin for him, ruin for all who have put their
slights upon me! The proud Dorothy must give me herself to buy her
father's safety! Her pride shall creep, her face lie in the dust! She
shall be Storri's! When her beauty fades--in a year--in two years--I
will cast her aside; I, Storri, whom these feeble people have defied!"

In the midst of the ravings of the hate-racked Storri, there came a tap.
A card was thrust in. Storri's onyx eyes gloated as he read the name.

"Harley!" said Storri. Then to the one at the door: "Have him up!" His
voice sunk to an exultant whisper as he heard Mr. Harley's step in the
hall. "Now is my vengeance to begin the feast! They shall know, these
feeble ones, what it is to brave a Russian!"

CHAPTER XI

HOW MR. HARLEY FOUND HIMSELF A FORGER

In the economy of the Harleys, the gray mare was the better horse, at
least the gray mare thought so. Mrs. Hanway-Harley put no faith in Mr.
Harley. He was an acquiescent if not an obedient husband, and, rather
than bicker, would submit to be moderately henpecked. When the
henpecking was carried to excess, Mr. Harley did not peck back; he
clapped on his hat, bolted for the door, and escaped. These measures,
while effective in so far that they carried Mr. Harley beyond the
immediate range of Mrs. Hanway-Harley's guns, left that wife and mother
with a depleted opinion of Mr. Harley. She could not respect one who
failed to give her battle, being offered proper provocation; and in that
Mrs. Hanway-Harley was one with all the world. To fight is now and then
an obligation.

Thinking thus lightly of Mr. Harley, and remembering, too, that Dorothy
could coil him round her finger, quell him with a tear, Mrs.
Hanway-Harley did not take him into her confidence as to those love
proffers of Storri, and Dorothy's rebellion. What would have been the
good? Mr. Harley's advice was nothing, while his countenance, as far as
it went, would be given to Dorothy the disobedient. Also, he would go to
Senator Hanway with the tangle. Such a course might bring her brother
actively upon the field; and Mrs. Hanway-Harley had gleaned enough from