“I must learn more before I can proceed upon my course,” he muttered. “One thing is clear: this wilful beauty has given herself, heart and soul, to that fellow Vivian, and I have no other rival to fear. It will not be so difficult to dispose of him if I have time; I must have time. Yet my necessities push me on to a _coup-de-main_. I will wait and see what to-morrow brings forth. A day may do much. One thing I swear, if I fail she shall never have him--never, never.” His face assumed a demoniacal aspect. It was but a moment only that it was so ruffled; he heard an approaching footstep, and his features became placid and serene, as though there raged not beneath emotions of carking anxieties, of dread solicitude, and almost despairing apprehension. CHAPTER XIV--THE BEGINNING OF THE END. _Col. Lamb_. Hold, sir! not so fast; you can’t pass. _Dr. Cant._ Who, sir, shall dare to stop me? _Col. Lamb._ Within there! [Enter Tipstaff. _Tipstaff_. Is your name Cantwell, sir? _Dr. Cant_. What if it be, sir? _Tipstaff_. Then, sir, I have my lord chief justice’s warrant against you. _Dr. Cant._ Against me? _Tipstaff_. Yes, sir, for a cheat and impostor. --Bickekstaff. To-morrow brought with it to Lester Vane a long _tête-à-tête_ with Mr. Wilton. Neither Flora nor Mark were visible to him, and Mr. Charlock had gone to London. During this interview he learned, to his dismay, the whole of Colonel Mires’ proceedings, as Mark had that morning at his request detailed to his father all that had occurred in reference to the abduction of Flora. He learned the particulars of Chewkle’s murderous attempt, and that, in both cases, Harry Vivian had been the hero who had saved father and daughter. It was information of a startling and a grave kind to him. He was quite enough master of woman’s character to comprehend how securely such acts would establish Vivian in Flora’s heart, and of human nature to know that if Wilton’s stumbling-block--pride--could be removed, he would, in all other respects, delight in Vivian as a son-in-law. For, although angry and irritated with him for what he considered the presumption of aspiring to his daughter’s hand, yet Wilton never failed to speak of him in all respects as in a high degree worthy his regard and esteem. Lester Vane, therefore, saw that Vivian was his great obstruction, and that he must be cleared from his path before he could himself make the least advance.