"But still one of which you are incapable to take advantage, Miss Kellett," said he, with eagerness.

"Is it to the girl who is to be got rid of, sir, you address this speech? Is it to her whose trustfulness has been made the instrument to deceive others and lure them to their ruin? Nay, Mr. Hankes, your estimate of my forbearance is, indeed, too high."

"But what would you do, young lady?"

"Do, sir! I scarcely know what I would not do," burst she in, passionately. "This letter was addressed to _me_. I know nothing of the mistake of its direction; here is the envelope with my name upon it. It is, consequently, mine,--mine, therefore, to publish, to declare to the world, through its words, that the whole of this grand enterprise is a cheat; that its great designer is a man of nothing, living the precarious life of a gambling speculator, trading on the rich man's horde and the poor man's pittance, making market of all, even to his patriotism. I would print this worthy document with no other comment than the words, 'Received by me, Sybella Kellett, this day of September, and sworn to as the handwriting of him whose initials it bears, Davenport Dunn.' I would publish it in such type that men might read it as they went, that all should take warning and put no faith in these unprincipled tricksters. Ay, sir, and I would cling, as my hope of safety from the world's scorn, to that insulting mention of myself, and claim as my vindication that I am the girl to be 'got rid of.' None shall dare to call me complice, since the little I once called my own is lost. But I would do more, sir. The world I have unwittingly aided to deceive has a full right to an expiation at my hands. I would make public the entire correspondence I have for months back been engaged in.

You seem to say 'No' to this. Is it my right you dispute, or my courage to assert the right?"

"You must be aware, Miss Kellett," said he, deprecatingly, "that you became possessed of this letter by a mistake; that you had no right to the intelligence it contains, and, consequently, have none to avail yourself of that knowledge. It may be perfectly true that you can employ it to our detriment. It would, I have little doubt, serve to shake our credit for a day or two; but do you know what misery, what utter ruin, your rashness will have caused meanwhile? By the fall of our securities you will beggar hundreds. All whose necessities may require them to sell out on the day of your disclosures will be irretrievably ruined. You meditate a vengeance upon Mr. Dunn, and your blow falls on some poor struggling creatures that you never so much as heard of. I do not speak," continued he, more boldly, as he saw the deep effect his words produced,--"I do not speak of the destitution and misery you will spread here,--all works stopped, all enterprise suspended, thousands thrown out of employment. These are the certain, the inevitable evils of what you propose to do. And now, let me ask, What are to be the benefits? You would depose from his station of power and influence the only man in the kingdom who has a brain to conceive, or a courage to carry out these gigantic enterprises,--the only man of influence sufficient to treat with the Government, and make his own terms. You would dethrone him, to install in his place some inferior intelligence,--some mere creature of profit and loss, without genius or patriotism; and all for what?--for a mere phrase, and that, too, in a letter which was never intended for your eyes."

Mr. Hankes saw that he was listened to, and he continued. Artfully contriving to take the case out of its real issue, he made it appear to Miss Kellett that she was solely impelled by personal motives, and had no other object in view than a vengeance on the man who had insulted her. "And now just throw your eyes over the letter intended for yourself. I only glanced at it, but it seemed to me written in a tone of sincerest well-wishing."

It was so. It contained the offer of a most advantageous position. A new Governor-General of India desired a suitable companion for his daughters, who had lost their mother. He was a nobleman of highest rank and influence. The station was one which secured great advantages, and Dunn had obtained the promise of it in her behalf by considerable exertion on his part Nay, more. Knowing that her fortune was engaged in the "Allotment scheme," he volunteered to take her shares at the highest rate they had ever borne, as she would, probably, require immediate means to procure an Indian outfit. The whole wound up with a deeply expressed regret at the loss Glengariff would sustain by her departure; "but all my selfishness," added he, "could not blind me to the injustice of detaining in obscurity one whose destiny so certainly points her out for a station lofty and distinguished."

She smiled at the words, and, showing them to Hankes, said, "It is most unfortunate, sir, that I should have seen the other letter. I could so readily have yielded myself up to all this flattery, which, even in its hollowness, has a certain charm."

"I am certain Miss Kellett has too much good sense--too much knowledge of life--too much generosity, besides--"

"Pray, sir, let me stop you, or the catalogue of my perfections may become puzzling, not to say that I need all the good gifts with which you would endow me to aid me to a right judgment here. I wish I knew what to do."

"Can you doubt it?"

"If the road be so clear, will you not point it out?"

"Write to Mr. Dunn. Well, let _me_ write to him. I will inform him how this mischance occurred. I will tell him that you had read and re-read his letter before discovering the mistake of the address; that, consequently, you are now--so far as this great enterprise is concerned--one of ourselves; that, although you scorn to take advantage of a circumstance thus accidentally revealed, yet that, as chance has put you in possession of certain facts, that---that, in short--"

"That, in short, I ought to profit by my good fortune," said she, calmly, finishing the phrase for him.

"Unquestionably," chimed in Hankes, quickly; "and, what's more, demand very high terms too. Dunn is a practical man," added he, in a lower and more confidential tone; "nobody knows better when liberality is the best policy."

"So that this is a case for a high price?" asked she, in the same calm tone.

"I 'd make it so if I were in your place. I 'd certainly say a 'high figure,' Miss Keliett."

"Shall I confess, sir, that, in so far as knowing how to profit by it, I am really unworthy of this piece of fortune? Is Mr. Hankes enough my friend to enlighten me?"

There was a smile that accompanied this speech which went far--very far--to influence Mr. Hankes. Once again did his personal fortunes rise before him; once again did he bethink him that this was an alliance that might lead to much.

"I can give you a case in point, Miss Keliett,--I mean as to the value of a secret. It was when Sir Robert Peel meditated his change in the Corn-laws. One of the council--it does not matter to say his name--accidentally divulged the secret intention, and a great journal gave no less than ten thousand pounds for the intelligence,--ten thousand pounds sterling!"

She seemed to pause over this story, and reflect upon it.

"Now," resumed Hankes, "it is just as likely he 'd say, 'Money is scarce just now; your demand comes at an inconvenient moment' This would be true,--there's no gainsaying it; and I'd reply, 'Let me have it in shares,--some of the new preference scrip just issued.'"

"How it does allay difficulties to deal with persons of great practical intelligence,--men of purpose-like mind!" said Sybella, gravely.

"Ah, Miss Kellett, if I could only believe that this was a favorable moment to appeal to you in their behalf,--at least, in so far as regards one of their number,--one who has long admired your great qualities in silence, and said to himself, 'What might she not be if allied to one well versed in life, trained to all its chances and changes--'"

"It never occurred to me to fancy I had inspired all this interest, sir," said she, calmly.

"Probably because your thoughts never dwelt on _me_," said Hankes, with a most entreating look; "but I assure you," added he, warmly, "the indifference was not reciprocal. I have been long--very long attracted by those shining abilities you display. Another might dwell upon your personal attractions, and say the impression your beauty had made upon him; but beauty is a flower,--a perishable hot-house flower. Not," added he, hastily, "that I pretend to be insensible to its fascinations; no, Miss Kellett, I have my weaknesses like the rest."

Sybella scarcely heard his words. It was but a day before, and a poor unlettered peasant, an humble creature unread in life and human nature, told her that he deemed her one fit for high and devoted enterprise, and that her rightful place was amidst the wounded and the dying in the Crimea. Had he construed her, then, more truly? At all events, the career was a noble one. She did not dare to contrast it any longer with her late life, so odious now did it seem to her, with all its schemes for wealth, its wily plot-tings and intrigues.

"I am afraid, sir, I have been inattentive,--I fear that my thoughts were away from what you have been saying," said she, hastily.

"Shall I just throw my ideas on paper, Miss Kellett, and wait your answer--say to-morrow?"

"My answer to what, sir?"

"I have been presumptuous enough to make you an offer of my hand, Miss Kellett," said he, with a half-offended dignity. "There are, of course, a number of minor considerations--I call them minor, as they relate to money matters--to be discussed after; for instance, with regard to these shares--"

"It will save us both a world of trouble, sir, when I thank you deeply for the honor you would destine me, and decline to accept it."

"I know there is a discrepancy in point of years--"

"Pray, sir, let us not continue the theme. I have given my answer, and my only one."

"Or if it be that any meddling individual should have mentioned the late Mrs. H.," said he, bristling up,-- "for she is the late, that I can satisfy you upon,--I have abundant evidence to show how that woman behaved--"

"You are confiding to me more than I have the right or wish to hear, sir."

"Only in vindication,--only in vindication. I am aware how her atrocious book has libelled me. It made me a perfect martyr for the season after it came out; but it is out of print,--not a copy to be had for fifty pounds, if it were offered."

"But really, sir--"

"And then, Miss Kellett," added he, in a sort of thrilling whisper, "she drank; at first sherry,--brown sherry--but afterwards brandy,--ay, ma'am, brandy neat and a matter of a bottle daily. If you only knew what I went through with her,--the scenes in the streets, in the playhouses, in coffee-rooms,--ay, and police-offices,--I give you my sacred word of honor Simpson Hankes was rapidly becoming as great a public scandal as the Rev. Paul Classon himself!"

"Cannot you perceive, sir, that these details are less than uninteresting to me?"

"Don't say that, Miss Kellett,--don't, I beg you, or else you 'll make me fear that you 'll not read the little pamphlet I published, entitled 'A Brief Statement by Simpson Hankes,'--a brochure that I am proud to believe decided the world in my favor."

"Once for all, Mr. Hankes, I decline to hear more of these matters. If I have not more plainly told you how little they claim to interest me, it is because my own selfish cares fill up my thoughts. I will try to hand you the correspondence Mr. Dunn desires to see in your keeping by to-morrow morning. There are many circumstances will require special explanation in it. However I will do my best to be ready."

"And my offer, Miss Kellett?"

"I have declined it, sir."

"But really, young lady, are you well aware of what it is you refuse?"

asked he, angrily.

"I will not discuss the question, sir," said she, haughtily. "Give me that letter I showed you."

"The letter, I opine, is mine, Miss Kellett. The address alone pertains to you."

"Do you mean, then, to retain possession of the letter?" asked she, hurriedly.

"I protest, I think it is better--better for all of us--that I should do so. You will pardon me if I observe that you are now under the influence of excited feelings,--you are irritated. Any line of action, under such circumstances, will necessarily be deficient in that calm, matured judgment which is mainly your characteristic."