For a moment he was silent, then quickly opening the letter addressed to Belle, and counting the sheets, he found there were six of them--just twenty-four pages in all. Reading, he was soon interested in the contents. Troubled thoughts running through his mind, he frequently passed his hand across his brow as if hiding the words from view. Before the letter was finished he was greatly agitated, and when all was read, his head bowed upon the desk, sigh after sigh escaped him. "What have I done? The writer of this letter would have made my daughter a kind and true husband. I will recall him--I must, for I cannot go farther in this deception. Poor Belle! God pity her! I--her father--have basely conspired to destroy her happiness. God! what a villain I am!" He arose and paced the floor in terrible agony of conscience. "I have added crime to cruelty, and my hand is plotting against two true and noble hearts. I will at once recall Alden, for Belle's letter received last evening informs me of her return home to-morrow. What sorrow awaits her! I must--I will make amends for all." Resuming his seat, he was about to open the letter addressed to Fannie Alden, when a rap at the door caused him to pause, and hastily slipping the two letters into a private drawer, he arose, and opening the door, to his surprise he found himself face to face with Walter Mannis. "Ah, Senator, how do you do? Glad to see you. You look surprised. Didn't expect to see me to-day, eh?" "No, I did not expect you, Mannis, but I am glad to see you. Walk in, and be seated." Closing and locking the door, and resuming his chair, he said: "Mannis, this is bad business. Yesterday I sent poor Alden away as if he were a common thief. To-day I am a changed man and must give up this business, for it is a damnable scheme." "Pshaw! Senator, you are only doing your duty; beside it is too late to turn back now. Tut, tut, man, another day will calm your mind and all will be well." "I suppose I am weak, but the scene I passed through yesterday has quite unmanned me; I will soon throw off this spell, realizing now that only the successful development of our scheme will save us. But I was a fool to ever begin it." Mannis, with his keen eye, saw that the veteran politician was really moved. He was astonished; what politician would not have been? But he did not lose his wits; he said: "The only thing necessary now is to prevent Alden's return. Of course you have intercepted his letters, for Sargent told me as I entered the bank that he handed you two this morning." "Yes, I have them safe; but the counterfeiting and forging business must follow. When will bloodshed be added?" The words were spoken in a desperate voice, so Mannis quickly replied: "Come, Senator, put on your hat and let us walk over to my room at the hotel. You need fresh air and a glass of wine--then we will return here and look further into this matter."