Part 47 (1/2)

”O, but, my dear sir, you will not grumble! Your sense of justice will enable you to perceive the equity of this division.”

”Enough of this! I am in no humor for jesting,” said Jaspar, with a frown.

”Jesting!” exclaimed the attorney, with a well-made gesture of astonishment; ”I was never more in earnest in my life.”

”May I be allowed to inquire the name of your intended bride?” sneered Jaspar.

”A very proper question; and, considering our intimate friends.h.i.+p, a very natural one. Although my intention is a profound secret, and one I should not like to have go abroad at present, especially as her nearest of kin might possibly object, still I shall venture to inform _you_, since you are to have the honor of providing the means of carrying my matrimonial designs into effect.”

”I am certainly under obligations for your favorable consideration. But the lady's name?”

”Miss Emily Dumont! a beautiful creature--high-spirited--every way worthy--”

”d.a.m.nation! this is too much,” growled Jaspar, fiercely, as he seized the pistol which lay near him, and levelled it at De Guy. ”You cursed villain! You and I must cry quits!”

”Do not miss your aim!” coolly returned the attorney, drawing from his pocket a revolver. ”Miss not your aim, or the fortune is _all_ mine.”

Jaspar was overcome by the coolness of De Guy, and, throwing down the pistol, he sank back into his chair, overpowered by the violence of his emotions.

”De Guy!” said he; ”fiend! devil! you were born to torment me. There is no hotter h.e.l.l than thine! Do thy work. I must bear all,”--and Jaspar felt that he was sold to the fiend before him.

”My dear sir, do not distress yourself,” replied the attorney, resuming his supercilious manner, which he had laid aside in the moment of peril.

”I offer you the means of safety. You will escape all the dangers that lower over you by my plan, which, I am glad to see, you perfectly understand.”

”And lose the price for which I sold my soul? Even Judas had his forty pieces of silver--the more fool he, to throw them away! I could not do this thing, if I would. My soul is bound to my money.”

”Pshaw! do not let avarice be your besetting sin. It is a vice too mean for your n.o.ble nature.”

Jaspar tried to sneer again, but the muscles refused to perform their office. He stood like a convicted demon before his sulphurous master.

”It must be done,” said De Guy; ”there is no other way.”

Jaspar heard the words, and struggled to avoid the conclusion towards which they pointed. The demon bade him yield, and the command was imperative. He could not resist--his will was gone.

”What are the details of your plan?” gasped he, faintly.

”Marry the lady, and take up my abode in this mansion,” replied the attorney, promptly.

”And turn me out of doors! Well, be it so. I must do as you will.”

”Nay, nay, my dear sir; you wrong me. You shall still be the honored inmate of our dwelling,--the affectionate uncle of your Emily, as of old,” said the attorney, with infinite good humor.

Jaspar had well-nigh recovered his self-possession under the stroke of this, to him, severe satire; but De Guy gave him no time.

”We must proceed in some haste,” continued the attorney, seizing a pen, and writing as he spoke. ”My time is short, and I have already been somewhat lavish of it. Here, sign this paper; it is your consent to my union with your niece. Call some one to witness it.”

Jaspar signed the certificate, without reading it. A witness was called, and the paper in due form was deposited in De Guy's pocket.

”Now, sir, the lady is not altogether willing to consent to this arrangement; but you must persuade her, and, if need be, compel her, to consent. She will be here in a few days. After the marriage, it will only remain for me to make over to you one-third of the property, which, as her husband, I can then legally do. Be firm, and behave like a man, and your troubles are ended. Everything will be hushed up, and you can spend the evening of your days in peace and quiet. I bid you good-day.”