"Gently, my dear sir! You forget that we have been friends, and that our mutual safety requires us to remain so still," said De Guy, in his silky tone and compromising manner. Jaspar compressed his lips, and grated his teeth, while a smothered oath escaped him. But his rage soon found a more audible expression. "Friends!" By ----, I should think we had been _friends!_" said he, fiercely. "Certainly, my dear sir,--_friends_." "Then save me from my friends!" "Better say your enemies! I fear you have a great many." "Save me from both! May I ask to what fortunate circumstance I am indebted for the honor of this visit?" said Jaspar, sarcastically mimicking the silky tones, of the attorney. "I came to forward our mutual interest." "Then, by ----, you can take yourself off! You and I will part company." "Indeed, sir, this is ungenerous, after I have assisted you into your present position, to treat me in this manner," replied the attorney, smilingly shaking his head. "I am _not_ indebted to you for my life, or my position! You have been a traitor, sir!--a traitor! and, tear out my heart, but I will swing, before I have anything further to do with you!" roared Jaspar, with compound emphasis, as he rose from his chair, and advanced to the brandy-bottle. "Gently, Mr. Dumont, gently! Do not get into a passion! May I ask what you mean by traitor? Have I not served you faithfully?" interrogated the attorney, with a smile of assurance. "Served me faithfully!" sneered Jaspar. "You served me a cursed shabby trick above Baton Rouge, at the wood-yard." "My _dear_ sir, you wrong me! I did not injure you bodily, I trust?" "No, sir! You have not that satisfaction." "I rejoice to hear it. All that I did was for your benefit," returned the attorney, complacently. "Do you take me for an idiot?" "By no means! You have shown your shrewdness too often to permit such a supposition." "What do you mean, then?" said Jaspar, a little mollified, in spite of himself, by the conciliatory assurance of De Guy. "Simply that your interest demanded your absence. I had not the time, then, to convince you of the fact; and, I trust, you will pardon the little subterfuge I adopted to promote your own views." Jaspar opened his eyes, and fixed them in a broad stare upon big companion. "Explain yourself," said he. "Everything has come out right,--has it not?" "Yes." "You are in quiet possession?" "Yes." "Then, sir, you may thank me for that little plan of mine at the wood-yard. If I had not prevented you from continuing your journey, all your hopes would have been blasted." "I do not understand you." "Where is your niece now?" asked the attorney, as a shade of anxiety beclouded his brow. "She was lost in the explosion," replied Jaspar, with a calmness with which few persons can speak of the loss of near friends.