"Oh, I have a different reason for desiring her to be kept ignorant of my
connection with her friend's exposure,"--and as he said this, the fellow
actually blushed and seemed much embarrassed.

"I do not understand you."

"Well, you see this friend of hers--I must again ask pardon for associating
her name with his so frequently, be reassured I do it with pain--as I have
already remarked, has ingratiated himself into her good opinion, and
knowing me to be in the way of the accomplishment of his wishes, he has
prejudiced her against me, and done so in such a manner as to induce the
belief in her mind that I am his bitterest enemy, and would use any means
to do him an injury or blacken his character. Hence, if she were to know
that anything came through me, she would at once set it down as false and
slanderous, which would drive her farther from me and nearer to the other,
thereby hastening the very calamity we would avert."

"I see you are right, having given more attention to the subject than I
have. I will never mention your name in connection with this matter, to
either my daughter or any other, without your permission."

"Thank you. Leaving all after action on your part to be as your judgment
shall dictate, I have nothing more left me to do in this trying interview,
than to reveal the name of the intriguer--it is Charles Hadley."

"_Charles Hadley!_" exclaimed the father in astonishment.

"It is none other than he."

"I could hardly have believed it of him."