WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 195

 

The word ‘stay’? came not to Jasper’s lips. He
was fully in earnest. Martin paused, with his hand
on the door, and said—

“Qne hundred dollars will do.”

“Not a copper, if it were to save you from
the nether regions!” cried Jasper, his anger and
indignation oerleaping the boundaries of self-
control.

He was alone in the next moment. ‘As his ex-
citement cooled down, he felt by no means indif-
ferent to the consequences which might follow this
rupture with Martin. More than one thought pre-
sented itself, which, if it could have been weighed
calmly a few minutes before, would have caused a
slightly modified treatment of his unwelcome visitor.

But having taken his position, Jasper determined
to adhere to it, and brave all consequences.

While Claire was yet seated at the breakfast-
table on the next morning, word was brought that
: gentleman was in the parlour and wished to see

im.

On entering the parlour, he found there a man of

exceedingly ill appearance, both as to countenance
and apparel.

‘ «My name is Martin,” said this person—“ though
you do not, I presume, know me.”

Claire answered that he was to him an entire
stranger.

“] have,” said the man, speaking in a low,
confidential tone of voice, “became cognisant of
certain facts, which it much concerns you, or at
least your adopted daughter, Fanny Elder, to
know.”