"I had no associate, and I have never mentioned the circumstance to a
living soul except yourself. Now, please be equally frank, and tell who
your confederate is in this plot to make your daughter out a hypocrite and
a liar?"

The father was startled by this bold demand, which, indeed, opened his eyes
to the enormity of his child's wickedness, if his charges against her were
true; but he had set his face to one point, and not being easily turned
aside from a purpose, proceeded:

"I am not to be deceived by a show of indignation and virtue, when it is
assumed for effect. You need not put yourself to the trouble of a denial or
confession; I know who is associated with you to traduce Duffel; it is no
other than the one who stands between you and the man of my choice--a poor
beggarly fellow, to whom you have taken a fancy because of his
worthlessness, I suppose. You understand who I mean. Well, he shall stand
between me and my wishes--or rather between you and good fortune--no
longer."

Indignation, surprise, wonder, fear, resentment, and a hundred other
emotions filled the mind of the daughter during the delivery of this
address; but amid them all, there was a purpose as fixed as that of her
sire's to have a voice in the matter of her own disposal. But before
anything further transpired, the father cast his eyes out of the open
window, and seeing a gentleman approaching, said:

"There comes that beggarly dog now! I must go and meet him."

And without further ceremony or explanation, he immediately left the house.