And most did so, for curiosity is a spirit fluttering over the heads of the many, few indeed are those eschewing her worship. On walked Tremenhere, accompanied by his friend, and in his wake came the others. At last he stood silently, surveying all in the room, where dozens were collected, some in knots talking, others at breakfast, others reading. In a glance Tremenhere took in all this, and the faces of friend and foe. He advanced a step. Burton stood with his back towards him, conversing with two or three persons. Was it instinct which made him suddenly turn, and grow white as the snowiest cloth on those tables, when he saw Tremenhere _erect_, smiling, and towering in height and manly beauty, as lie gave him a glance of scorn? He stopped suddenly in what he was uttering, and made a movement to quit the room by a side-door. There is a power, an irresistible spell, in dignity and right combined, (indeed the former cannot exist without the latter,) which make the meaner mind bow down before them. "Stop, Marmaduke Burton!" cried Tremenhere with his full, rich voice of command. Burton made an involuntary pause, and then, with a quick shuffling gait, attempted to seem dignified as he moved towards the door. "Stop him!" cried Tremenhere again, calmly waving his hand, "that he may at least have the satisfaction of hearing me, face to face, proclaim him slanderer, liar, and coward!" Burton was forced to turn. At these words a movement passed over the whole room--no one, however, spoke. "Look at him!" said Tremenhere, contemptuously. "He dare not face what he has done; were it not from inability to move--for no shame withholds him--he would fly!" "These are harsh words," said an officer, advancing; "are you prepared to prove them?" "That I am," answered the other; and in words as brief as possible he told the tale, and his visit to Brighton--the evidence there--summing up all with the refusal on Burton's part to meet him. "It pains me deeply," continued Tremenhere, with much emotion, "to drag the name of my wife before this assembly; but her accusations have been openly spoken, or whispered in every select circle where my humble name is known. 'Tis true I might have sought my remedy by law; but I leave such to colder hearts and heads than mine. I forgot," he added, looking round upon all, "to present myself to many who may not know me. I am Miles Tremenhere, now an humble artist, once heir of the manor-house, ----, Yorkshire; that, my worthy cousin, who from childhood had been my companion, has for a while--_only for a while_--deprived me of----but let that rest. I came to-day to proclaim him what you have all heard, and he _dare_ not deny it. Once I have horsewhipped him for his base seduction of an innocent girl,--flogging is thrown away on callous skins like his; so I brand him--liar and coward!" "Sir," said Burton, endeavouring to seem calm, "you shall answer for this, and bitterly rue it."