e how I can agree to it," broke in the other. "If she
distinctly tells me that she will not meet you--"

"Then she shall, by------!" cried Paten, confirming the determination by
a terrible oath. "Look out now, Stocmar, for a scene," continued he,
"and gratify yourself by the thought it is all your own doing. Had you
accepted my proposal, I 'd have simply gone in your place, made myself
known to her without scandal or exposure, and, in very few words,
declared what my views were, and learned how far she'd concur with them.
You prefer an open rupture before the world. Well, you shall have it!"

Stocmar employed all his most skilful arguments to oppose this coarse.
He showed that, in adopting it, Paten sacrificed every prospect of
self-interest and advantage, and, for the mere indulgence of a cruel
outrage, that he compromised a position of positive benefit. The other,
however, would not yield an inch. The extreme concession that Stocmar,
after a long discussion, could obtain was, that the interview was not to
exceed a few minutes, a quarter of an hour at furthest; that there was
to be no _eclat_ or exposure, so far as he could pledge himself; and
that he would exonerate Stocmar from all the reproach of being a willing
party to the scheme. Even with these stipulations, Stocmar felt far from
being reconciled to the plan, and declared that he could never forgive
himself for his share in it.

"It is your confounded self-esteem is always uppermost in your
thoughts," said Paten, insolently. "Just please to remember you are no
foreground figure in this picture, if you be any figure at all. I
feel full certain _she_ does not want you,--I 'll take my oath _I_
do not,--so leave us to settle our own affairs our own way, and don't
distress yourself because you can't interfere with them."

With this rude speech, uttered in a tone insolent as the words, Paten
arose and left the room. Scarcely had the door closed after him,
however, than he reopened it, and said,--

"Only one word more, Stocmar. No double,--no treachery with me here. I
'll keep my pledge to the very letter; but if you attempt to trick or
to overreach me, I 'll blow up the magazine."

Before Stocmar could reply, he was gone.

CHAPTER XXXV. LOO AND HER FATHER

Mrs. Morris, supposed to be confined to her room with a bad headache,
was engaged in dressing for the masked ball, when a small twisted note
was delivered to her by her maid.

"Is the bearer of this