As Eveline Mandeville had mentioned the circumstance of having overheard
the conversation between the two worthies, related, in the first chapter,
to no one but her father, it becomes a matter of curiosity to know how
Duffel had come in possession of the secret. A very few words will explain
the matter. Like most persons who feel a consciousness of want of rectitude
of purpose, he felt desirous to learn what other people thought of him,
fearing his evil intentions might possibly manifest themselves in some
manner unnoticed by himself; and as he had most at stake with the
Mandevilles, he was proportionally more interested in the opinions they
might entertain respecting his life and character, than in those of any
others. He accordingly resorted to the mean and cowardly expedient of
eavesdropping, in order to gain a knowledge of the standing he occupied in
the estimation of this family, particularly with regard to the father and
daughter. He would approach the house unobserved and listen at some point,
to overhear the conversations that took place in the family circle!

He was thus occupied during the conference of parent and child, above
referred to, and learned, to his great joy, that in the father he had a
warm advocate, but with equal chagrin that the daughter had no good-will
toward him; a fact, however, that he had more than suspected before; but,
having taken a fancy to her, and the prospect of obtaining with her hand a
good property being a still stronger motive, he had set his heart upon
making her his bride, even though she might detest him as a companion.

But when he heard the revelation made by the daughter to her father, at the
close of their interview, concerning his association with the suspicious
stranger and probable connection with some secret body of villains, and
perceived the marked effect it had upon the latter, he became alarmed for
the success of his schemes, and seeing the conversation was ended, hastened