To the period when Miss Valmont should have attained the age of twenty, I limited your secresy, my Lord; and this adds another proof, if another could be necessary, to the goodness of my intentions. By her father's will, she becomes independent of her guardians at twenty-one. At twenty, I intended that herself and her possessions should be given to the husband for whom I have purposely educated her; and from whom, for the security of their future happiness, I would carefully have hidden the knowledge of her fortune till that period. My precautions were taken with such order and contrivance, that I have reason to believe it has not even been suspected by any creature that Miss Valmont is an heiress. _Do not slumber, dear Walter; read that line again--Miss Valmont is an heiress._ Yet now, my Lord, my niece herself is apprized of it; and has with more zeal than either judgment or duty demanded an explanation of my motives for treating her as my dependent. It is you only who can have conveyed this intelligence to her: you, my Lord, who, I am sorry to say, since you formed the design of uniting Miss Valmont to your son have forgotten honour and integrity. I believe your son has found entrance into my castle by means a gentleman should scorn to use; but, neither in his own nor in his feigned name, shall he gain another admission. My vigilance is awakened; and, in his behalf, it shall not slumber a second time. My Lord, I have returned the accounts you sent for my inspection, together with the necessary acquittals; and I request we may not meet any more, as the business till Miss Valmont is of age may be transacted by any agent you choose to appoint. I remain, my Lord, henceforth a stranger to you and your's GEORGE VALMONT 'Is there not,' said I, and in truth, Walter, I did not very well know what to say, so dizzy had I become in reading Mr. Valmont's incontrovertible acknowledgement of his niece's fortune, together with the unlooked for charge against me of having stolen into his castle--'Is there not,' said I, 'something like a challenge implied here, my Lord?' 'No indeed,' replied my father with sufficient eagerness. 'Don't you see he desires we may not meet again.--But I am rather in doubt, Filmar, whether we ought or ought not to send Mr. Valmont a challenge?' 'So am I, my Lord; but if your will allow me an hour to consider the case I will settle it if possible.' 'Do--do!' said the Earl. 'But what can he mean about you and the castle?' 'No one, Sir, but himself can decide that matter, I believe.'