Vengeance to God alone belongs; But when I think of all my wrongs My blood is liquid flame! --_Marmion._ While Ishmael and Judge Merlin still conversed the carriage was announced. A message was dispatched to Mr. Brudenell; but the messenger returned with the news that the gentleman had gone out. Therefore Ishmael and the judge, taking Katie with them, entered the carriage and gave the order to be driven to the American consul's office. The way was long, the carriage slow, and the judge boiling over with rage and impatience. It was well for Judge Merlin that he had Ishmael Worth beside him to restrain his passion and guide his actions. During the ride the young lawyer said: "In conducting this affair, Judge Merlin, Lady Vincent's welfare must be our very first consideration." "Oh, yes, yes!" "To do her any good we must act with promptitude." "Of course." "But to act with promptitude, great sacrifices must be made." "What sacrifices?" "In the first place, you must lay aside your desire for vengeance upon the villainous kidnapers who brought your old servants here and sold them." "Ah, but, Ishmael, I cannot bear to let them go unpunished." "Believe me, no crime ever goes unpunished. These men, sooner or later, will be brought to justice. But if you attempt to prosecute them, you will be detained here for days, weeks, and perhaps even months. For, once having laid so grave a charge against any man, or set of men, you would be compelled to remain as a prosecuting witness against them. And the delay would be almost fatal to Lady Vincent, suffering as she must be the most extreme agony of suspense." "I see! I see! Poor Claudia! she must be my only thought! I must leave the smuggler to the justice of Heaven. But it is a sacrifice, Ishmael." "A necessary one, sir; but there is still another that you must make in order to hasten to the rescue of Lady Vincent." "And that?" "Is the sacrifice of a large sum of money. A large sum, even for a man of fortune like yourself, judge." "And that fortune is not nearly so considerable as it is supposed to be, Ishmael. When I had paid over my daughter's dower, I left myself but a moderate independence." "Nevertheless, judge, if it should take the whole of your funded property, you will gladly devote it to the vindication of your daughter's honor. We must be in England with our witnesses in time to arrest Lord Vincent and his accomplices before he has an opportunity of bringing on the divorce suit." "Certainly."