"Ou, me laird! for pity, dinna do that! Send her ways back to her ain countrie. She's but a wee bit lassie after a'! And she's awa' fra fayther and mither, and a' her folk! And 'deed I canna bring mysel' to think that ill o' her, neither! 'deed no!" "Cuthbert, are you out of your senses? What are you talking about? The man was found concealed in her room, and being discovered, confessed his guilt," said Lord Vincent. "Aye, me laird, but she denied all knowledge of him; and she looked grand wi' the majesty of truth, me laird. Folk dinna look that way when they're leeing. And the lad Frisbie looked just as if he were leeing. Folk dinna look as he looked when they're telling the truth." "Cuthbert, you are an old dolt! We do not depend on Frisbie's word, exclusively. We have the fact of finding him in the room." "I misdoubt he e'en just hid himsel' in there for the purpose of robbery, unbeknownst to the leddy. And then cast the blame on her to help to shield himsel', the villain!" "Cuthbert, you are in your dotage!" exclaimed the viscount angrily. "It may be sae, my laird; but I canna think shame o' the leddy! Nay, I canna! Howbeit! richt or wrong, the shame has come till her. Sae, me laird, in marcy take an auld man's counsel, and e'en just gie her her dower, and send her her ways to her feyther's house." "Cuthbert, your brain is softening. Hark ye! Get yourself off to bed." "Aye, me laird," said the old man meekly, as he withdrew to his den; "but I canna think sin o' the leddy! nay, nay, I canna!" When all the house was still Lord Vincent stole to the apartments of Mrs. Dugald. "Oh! I have been waiting for you so long and so impatiently," she said, as she placed him a chair at her dressing-room fireside. "I came as soon as all was quiet. Oh, Faustina, how I am sinking my soul in sin and infamy for your sake!" exclaimed Lord Vincent, as a momentary qualm of shame sickened his heart. "Do you repent it, then?" she inquired, with a glance that brought him to her feet, a slave once more, "do you repent it?" "No, my angel, no! though we go to perdition, we go together! And it is joy and glory to lose myself for you--for you!" he exclaimed passionately, and attempting to embrace her. "Ha! stop! beware! You are not free yet--nor am I your wife!" exclaimed the artful woman, withdrawing herself from his advances. "But I shall be free soon, and you shall be my wife. You know it, Faustina. You know that I am your slave. You can do with me as you please. Then why be so cruel as to refuse me even one kiss?" "That I may have nothing to reproach myself with in after time--when I shall be Lady Vincent. That you may not have to blush for your second viscountess, as you have had to blush for your first." "Oh, Faustina, how coldly cruel and calculating you sometimes seem to me! Why do I love you so insanely that you possess my very soul? Why is it, beautiful witch?" "Because I love you so much, mon ami."