"Barbara is still alive, dear brother-in-law," said Maxwell, laughing quietly to himself. "You are in time, you see. Oh, yes, you are in time." I threw open the door of the adjoining room. A strange woman was there, standing by a chair in which Barbara was lolling. Except that she had grown more unwieldy, that her eyes were bleared and dim, and that her driveling mouth and hanging jaws gave her the appearance of a besotted hag, she bore no traces of a mortal illness such as Maxwell had described. The truth rushed upon me with convincing force. I had been tricked. "Neat, wasn't it?" exclaimed Maxwell, as I closed the door upon the disgusting sight. "Would you believe," addressing my stepmother, "that our dear John was actually calculating the time when he would be free to marry the low woman for whom he deserted his lawful wife?" "I would believe anything of him," said my stepmother. "I warn you," I said. "Another such allusion, and I will thrash you within an inch of your life." "Oh! I'm not to be frightened by threats," he blustered, "and I'm not going to quarrel with you." "You will gain nothing by the trick you have played me," I said. "I am already making your sister an allowance which my means do not warrant, and which no court of law would compel me to pay." "A pretense of poverty for which we are prepared. And we are prepared also to make your affairs public property unless you listen to reason." "You are in the plot against me," I said to my stepmother. "That is a lie," she replied, composedly. "I am not in any plot against you, but I am ready to give evidence when called upon." "We are here, John, in the presence of a witness," said Maxwell, "for the purpose of coming to an understanding. You have had sufficient experience of me to be aware by this time that you are no match for me. If you wish to be left in peace, to lead any life you choose, you will have to pay for it. Shall I name the price?" "It will be quite useless. You will never obtain another shilling from me." "You shall have the opportunity to consider it, John. For one thousand pounds--a sum you can well afford to pay--you shall be left forever at peace, to go your own way to the devil. I will bind myself never to molest you again by any legal document you may lay before me. Consider it well, brother-in-law. What I offer is worth the price." "It needs no consideration. You have my answer." "I give you a week to think it over," he continued. "If then you persist in your refusal, I will dog you like your shadow--and not only you but the lady; observe how polite I am--in whom you take an interest. I will hunt you down and make your life and hers a daily misery. You may be able to stand it for a time. If I am any judge of appearances she will not. You have a gift of imagination. Imagine the worst I can do, and you will fall short of the reality. If not for your own sake, John, for hers, think it over."