"I must state the business for which I requested your presence," said Jaspar, not a little moved by the words of Emily. Human nature is a strange compound of inconsistencies. This man, whose life had been stained with crime, was now disposed to regard the past with contrition. We have seen him scorning even an allusion to the higher life of the soul,--but success was then within the reach of his crime-stained hand! Now, failure on every hand awaited him, and all those bravadoes with which he had kept down his better nature deserted him. Not one scornful thought came to banish the good angel from his presence. But the feeling was of short duration. It was but a momentary contrition, which a selfish hope or a burst of passion could dissipate. "I will restore your fortune, on one condition," said he. "You can accept or reject it, at your option." "I beg your pardon," suggested the attorney, "these were not exactly the terms of our contract." "Name the condition, uncle," added Emily, indifferently; for she was anxious to have the business, whatever it might be, finished, so that she could again plead with Jaspar for his personal reformation, for she was a little encouraged by the appearance of humiliation he had manifested. "I restore your fortune, on condition that you give your hand to this gentleman in marriage;"--and Jaspar again fixed his eyes on the floor, as if he dreaded the outbreak of a storm. "This gentleman!" exclaimed Emily, indignantly. "This gentleman!"--and she gazed upon him with a proud look of contempt, from which the attorney would fain have hid his head. Her surprise was equal to her indignation. Vernon had told her that _Maxwell_ was to be the suppliant for her hand, and she could not see why his menial had the presumption to claim her. "This gentleman!" repeated Emily. "I had rather die a thousand deaths!" "Then, madam, we shall be obliged to compel you to this step," replied De Guy, stung by the scorn of Emily, and distrusting the energy of Jaspar. "Sir, your impertinence deserves a severer rebuke than I can administer!" said Emily, the blood mounting to her face. "But it must be even so, madam," returned the attorney coolly. "Fate has so decreed. Your good uncle's circumstances imperatively demand it." "Is this so, uncle?" "It is, Emily. You must submit to your fate, unpleasant though it may be," said Jaspar, looking at her with an absent stare. "No, uncle, it shall not be so. I never will submit to such a fate. What circumstances do you refer to?" "I am in this man's power." "God be with you, then! But I understand it all. He seeks my fortune, not myself. I would rather he had the whole of it, than become such a _thing_ as to marry that man!" "Nay, lady, _you_ are of more worth to me than your fortune, large as it is. I have contracted with your uncle for your hand, and he must pay the price," said De Guy. "He speaks truly, Emily. I have _sold_ you to him," replied Jaspar, vacantly.