"I am surprised," said Morton, evading the direct answer to his question, "that you should have known me after so many years." "The features of those who ought to act with me are engraved on my heart," answered Burley; "and few but Silas Morton's son durst have followed me into this my castle of retreat. Seest thou that drawbridge of Nature's own construction?" he added, pointing to the prostrate oak-tree,--"one spurn of my foot, and it is overwhelmed in the abyss below, bidding foeman on the farther side stand at defiance, and leaving enemies on this at the mercy of one who never yet met his equal in single fight." "Of such defences," said Morton, "I should have thought you would now have had little need." "Little need?" said Burley impatiently. "What little need, when incarnate fiends are combined against me on earth, and Sathan himself--But it matters not," added he, checking himself. "Enough that I like my place of refuge, my cave of Adullam, and would not change its rude ribs of limestone rock for the fair chambers of the castle of the earls of Torwood, with their broad bounds and barony. Thou, unless the foolish fever-fit be over, mayst think differently." "It was of those very possessions I came to speak," said Morton; "and I doubt not to find Mr. Balfour the same rational and reflecting person which I knew him to be in times when zeal disunited brethren." "Ay?" said Burley; "indeed? Is such truly your hope? Wilt thou express it more plainly?" "In a word, then," said Morton, "you have exercised, by means at which I can guess, a secret, but most prejudicial, influence over the fortunes of Lady Margaret Bellenden and her granddaughter, and in favour of that base, oppressive apostate, Basil Olifant, whom the law, deceived by thy operations, has placed in possession of their lawful property." "Sayest thou?" said Balfour. "I do say so," replied Morton; "and face to face you will not deny what you have vouched by your handwriting." "And suppose I deny it not," said Balfour; "and suppose that thy--eloquence were found equal to persuade me to retrace the steps I have taken on matured resolve,--what will be thy meed? Dost thou still hope to possess the fair-haired girl, with her wide and rich inheritance?" "I have no such hope," answered Morton, calmly. "And for whom, then, hast thou ventured to do this great thing,--to seek to rend the prey from the valiant, to bring forth food from the den of the lion, and to extract sweetness from the maw of the devourer? For whose sake hast thou undertaken to read this riddle, more hard than Samson's?" "For Lord Evandale's and that of his bride," replied Morton, firmly. "Think better of mankind, Mr. Balfour, and believe there are some who are willing to sacrifice their happiness to that of others."