"How did you know,--did your father tell you?"

"Poor belle-mere!" said Gabriel, almost with pity; "can you live in this
house and not watch all that passes,--every stranger, every message,
every letter? But what, then, does he wish with you?"

"He has suggested my returning to England and seeing the trustees myself.
His interest can obtain my passport."

"And you have refused?"

"I have not consented."

"Consent!--hush!--your maid; Marie is not waiting without;" and Gabriel
rose and looked forth. "No, confound these doors! none close as they
ought in this house. Is it not a clause in your settlement that the half
of your fortune now invested goes to the survivor?"

"It is," replied Lucretia, struck and thrilled at the question. "How,
again, did you know this?"

"I saw my father reading the copy. If you die first, then, he has all.
If he merely wanted the money, he would not send you away."

There was a terrible pause. Gabriel resumed: "I trust you, it may be,
with my life; but I will speak out. My father goes much to Bellanger's
widow; she is rich and weak. Come to England! Yes, come; for he is
about to dismiss me. He fears that I shall be in the way, to warn you,
perhaps, or to--to-- In short, both of us are in his way. He gives you
an escape. Once in England, the war which is breaking out will prevent