"I will tell you, since you urge me," he replied. "Lord Maltravers and myself are rivals for your sister's hand." "Ah! I suspected as much." "Bambino, the Italian, is the paid spy and assassin of Maltravers." Alfred Van Hoosen appeared confused, and a look of vexation crossed his face. "I have heard of Lord Maltravers from my mother," he said; "of course I was prejudiced against you, at first, on account of that affair of Mr. Cobb's; now that is all removed." "Thank you," replied Jack. "I am glad to hear you say so, because I want to stand well with you." "We Americans are quite as punctilious and particular as you English," said Van Hoosen; "and I can tell you that the best families think as much of themselves as you aristocrats who are descended from the Normans." "Why should you not?" "Well, we are friends. You have proved yourself a man, Harkaway, and I shall always esteem you." "May I beg one favor?" exclaimed Jack. "Anything in my power, to grant, you can command," was the warm reply. "It is useless to disguise the fact that I love your sister, and I have every reason to believe that she is not indifferent to me. Will you use your influence with her, on my behalf?" The expression of vexation which Jack had previously remarked deepened on Alfred's face. "I will do so," he replied; "but I fear it will not avail you." "Will you explain the reason?" "Yes, it is as well to be candid with you: my mother, whom both Lena and myself respect beyond every one and everything else in the world, has made up her mind that my sister shall contract a distinguished alliance." "What do you mean by that? I am a gentleman and I have a moderate income." "Don't think for a moment," Alfred hastened to say, "that I intended to cast any reflection upon you. My mother tried in Paris to make Lena marry a French count, and now she has set her heart on an English lord." Jack felt a quivering at the heart. "Noblemen are scarce in this democratic country," he said. "Admitted; but my mother has already selected her future son-in-law." "Will you kindly tell me who this fortunate scion of the aristocracy is?" inquired Jack, in a cold, hard voice. "It is your enemy." "Lord Maltravers?" "The same," replied Alfred Van Hoosen. Jack flushed with indignation. "But, my dear sir, from what I have already told you," he exclaimed, "the man is a scoundrel." "True; and we must band together to save Lena. I am with you all the time. Yet the danger is imminent. We have had a dispatch." "From his lordship?" "Yes, and he is expected here to-day." Jack looked blankly at Van Hoosen. "Maltravers to be here to-day?" he ejaculated. "I fought a duel with him in France, and I thought the sword-thrust I gave him, would disable him for some time to come." A servant entered the room in which they were sitting. "What is it, John?" "Lord Maltravers is down-stairs, sir, and Mrs. Van Hoosen requests your presence." The young men looked at one another.