immediately, arises solely from my not
having the honour of knowing anything of
your family or station. Upon these points
you can, of course, satisfy me without
difficulty?'

'As to my respectability,' said the
stranger, drily, 'you must take that for
granted at present; pester me with no
inquiries; you can discover nothing more
about me than I choose to make known.
You shall have sufficient security for my
respectability--my word, if you are honourable:
if you are sordid, my gold.'

'A testy old gentleman,' thought Douw;
'he must have his own way. But, all
things considered, I am justified in giving
my niece to him. Were she my own
daughter, I would do the like by her. I
will not pledge myself unnecessarily, however.'

'You will not pledge yourself unnecessarily,'
said Vanderhausen, strangely uttering
the very words which had just floated
through the mind of his companion; 'but
you will do so if it IS necessary, I presume;
and I will show you that I consider it in-
dispensable. If the gold I mean to leave
in your hands satisfy you, and if you