"True, I can trust you with anything, only that I fear your indignation will betray me." "Never fear; for once I will keep cool at all hazards." "I make one solemn condition: you must never, under any circumstances, reveal the name of your informant to either your daughter or my enemy." "Why this restriction?" "I have already explained why as far as _he_ is concerned." "But Eveline?" "Oh, I have a different reason for desiring her to be kept ignorant of my connection with her friend's exposure,"--and as he said this, the fellow actually blushed and seemed much embarrassed. "I do not understand you." "Well, you see this friend of hers--I must again ask pardon for associating her name with his so frequently, be reassured I do it with pain--as I have already remarked, has ingratiated himself into her good opinion, and knowing me to be in the way of the accomplishment of his wishes, he has prejudiced her against me, and done so in such a manner as to induce the belief in her mind that I am his bitterest enemy, and would use any means to do him an injury or blacken his character. Hence, if she were to know that anything came through me, she would at once set it down as false and slanderous, which would drive her farther from me and nearer to the other, thereby hastening the very calamity we would avert." "I see you are right, having given more attention to the subject than I have. I will never mention your name in connection with this matter, to either my daughter or any other, without your permission." "Thank you. Leaving all after action on your part to be as your judgment shall dictate, I have nothing more left me to do in this trying interview, than to reveal the name of the intriguer--it is Charles Hadley." "_Charles Hadley!_" exclaimed the father in astonishment. "It is none other than he." "I could hardly have believed it of him." "Nor I. Such depth of depravity is truly inconceivable to an honorable mind." "I remember now, he has been somewhat familiar with Eveline; but I had no idea the beggarly dog would dare think of marrying her. I must see to this immediately." "Remember to be cautious for my sake." "Don't fear on that ground."