‘Mr Crampton sent for me before ten o’clock this morning, and I found him in the greatest distress. His wife had intercepted a letter from you to Miss Crampton, and the contents had terribly upset him.’ ‘Passing over the fact that I consider it a breach of honour to pry into the private correspondence of anybody, I am not aware that there was anything in the letter alluded to that was calculated to upset Mr Crampton,’ said Frederick. ‘I don’t sanction the proceeding, my dear Walcheren; I am only telling you the facts. The old gentleman was more than upset; he was terribly angry, and he made his daughter give him a solemn promise not to see (of her own free will), or speak, or write to you again.’ ‘And pray, may I ask,’ cried Frederick Walcheren in a sudden fury, ‘what business it is of yours, Mr Hindes, to mention the subject to me?’ ‘None at all, but I owe it to the entreaty of my friends. Both Mr and Mrs Crampton have begged me to convey their wishes to you. They have derived so much pleasure from your society as an acquaintance, and think so highly of your intentions with regard to their daughter, that they dreaded the task of telling you personally, that they can never give their sanction to a marriage between you.’ ‘Perhaps, as they told you so much, they were good enough to add their reasons for so extraordinary a decision,’ exclaimed Walcheren, in a tone of sarcasm. ‘Certainly they did, and it is one with which you cannot find serious fault. The objection is your religion. Mr Crampton will never allow his daughter to inter-marry with a Catholic, and his decision is irrevocable. Since your feelings for Miss Crampton cannot have gone beyond admiration, considering the short time you have known her, he thought it best you should hear his decision at once, before any mischief is done on either side.’ ‘And Miss Crampton’s feelings? Are they not to be taken into consideration also?’ ‘Most certainly! There is nothing on earth Mr Crampton cares for so much as his only child! She is his heiress, as doubtless you know, but he will leave her nothing if she marries against his wishes. He is very obstinate when thwarted, and very unrelenting. And Miss Crampton would hardly be so foolish as to give up her fortune, as well as her parents, at one blow. Under these circumstances, I hope you will not take offence, my dear Walcheren, if I ask you, in his name, to relinquish your acquaintanceship with Miss Crampton, and to leave off visiting at the house. It is an unpleasant task my friends have set me, but I have done it for their sakes, and without any ulterior feeling against yourself. I have not a daughter old enough to aspire to your hand,’ said Henry Hindes, smiling, ‘but if I had, I am not sure that I should deliver such a message to you on my own account!’ But Frederick Walcheren took no notice of this little sop for Cerberus. ‘Have the Cramptons any other objection to me besides that of my religion?’ he asked presently.